Praying Blessing--and Bringing God's Love

[Lewis Turner]

"Praying Blessing--and Bringing God's Love"

Note:  This discussion is also in the group Intercessors on Pray.Network

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This morning, my computer was giving me issues, forcing me to develop a prayer encouragement for my church by hand---yes---using pen, ink and blank paper.

I sensed the Lord was taking me to John 17:26 where Jesus was praying to God. In that verse, it gives a reason for declaring the Name of God on the Jewish People. It was that the Love of God will be in us. Then the Lord directed me to Numbers 6:27 which tells us why the Aaronic Blessing was given. The blessing was spoken once a day that the Name of God would be put on the children of Israel, and that God would bless them.

So often we focus on our needs and the needs for others, and that could be called needy praying. Needs are very important to address and pray about. However, following what is written in Numbers 6:27, where we are encouraged to speak the Aaronic blessing over us, I believe the words of Jesus in John 17:26 gives us the purpose of that Blessing. The purpose is that God's Love will be in us.

Perhaps our prayers should be following the example of the Aaronic blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine upon you.

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.