Page 148 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 8

Foundational Discussions in Christian Psychology
We may appreciate people around us mainly in
five different ways: by speaking words of affir-
mation, giving tangible gifts, spending quality
time, doing acts of service or where appropri-
ate giving physical touch (Chapman & White,
2011).
The words “thank you” in all instances where it
is appropriate (even where it is people’s duty to
serve you) can be a good beginning!
Scriptures confirming the prayer of blessing
and its impact
We need to know what the Scriptures say about
the prayer for other people.
Firstly praying for all
In 1 Tim 2:1-3 (NKJV) the Lord says:
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be
made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in
authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceab-
le life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this
is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Savior,
It is important to note that this Scripture ur- searches the hearts knows what the mind of
ges in the first place that prayers of all kinds be
made for all men. In its simple way that is what
the prayer of blessing done daily does – it con-
firms that doing that is something good and ac-
ceptable to Jesus.
What is more, it speaks of a promise – living
quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and
reverence.
Actual impact: People who do the prayer of
blessing daily report across the board the ama-
zing peace that they start to experience in their
lives.
The Great Commandments
In Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus summarises the Law
into two great Commandments:
37 Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart, with all your
soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the
first and great commandment. 39 And the se-
cond is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor
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as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments
hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
(Matthew 22:27-40 NKJV)
The prayer of blessing really assists all believers
to live out the two great commandments mul-
tiple times per day. Prayer is communication
with the Lord and an expression of our love for
Him.
Furthermore, the believer is loving and caring
for people around him/her multiple times per
day by asking God to give His most wonderful
gift to them. These people are mostly strangers
and he/she does not know or need to know wh-
ether they are believers.
The Holy Spirit assists our prayers
The believer can also know for certain that his/
her prayers are assisted by the Holy Spirit to be
in accordance with God’s will.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our wea-
knesses. For we do not know what we should
pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself
makes intercession for us with groanings
which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who
the Spirit is, because He makes intercession
for the saints according to the will of God.
(Romans 8:26-27 NKJV)
Conclusion
As believers start to practise the prayer of bles-
sing as part of a lifestyle of faith-praxis living –
asking God to give His blessing to others, they
first experience the transformation in themsel-
ves. The Scriptures quoted in this article shows
that this should not surprise us – it is the pro-
mise of God.
This lifestyle of exercising the priesthood of the
believer is available to all believers as it is in es-
sence a silent prayer. Its impact on those that we
pray for is mostly not know (except when we do
it in our families, churches and workplaces), but
from Scripture God promises a major impact.
The one thing that we can experience, though,
is that as we pray, God is transforming us.