Numbers 6:22-26
The Lord told Moses to speak to Aaron and to his sons and to tell them to bless the Israelites with these words: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Your blessing, which Aaron was to give to the people, serves as a reminder of Your will for people. It also aligns with Jesus’ words when He said, “I did not come to condemn the world but to redeem it.” You wanted Your blessing to be upon the people, and while you would have everyone to be saved, you force no one to faith.
Aaron and his sons were to speak this prayer over Your people. They were to ask You to bless and keep the people, sustaining them with everything they needed for both body and soul. So that Your face would shine on the people, and you would be gracious to them.
We ask for this blessing to be upon us, your people. Please let a new dawn break forth through the darkness of our sin because of your Son’s death on the cross. That by Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and the devil, You are gracious and merciful to us, giving us Your forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. So we pray that You look at us with favor through Your Holy Spirit by giving us faith that we believe we are forgiven. In forgiveness, we have peace because we are restored to you. All the sins that once separated us from you are gone, and we are united to you by faith.
Lord, we ask for Your blessing to be on us today, especially as we begin this new year; please allow us to hold on to You in faith and love because of how You have already blessed us. Grant us new opportunities as we move forward to share the good news of Your love, grace, and mercy with those who do not know You so that they, too, will believe in You and have true peace that only comes by being untied to you. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
May you know, believe, and trust God’s love for you as you navigate the New Year, and as God blesses you, may you also hold on to the forgiveness Jesus won for you so that you will have eternal life and salvation.