blest and kept

Monday, September 17, 2018 (8:03 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your presence. Thank You for Your guidance.

We come before You seeking Your blessing and protection (Numbers 6:24). Your keeping. Watching over. Taking care. Guarding.

Mm, this seemingly simple priestly blessing is rife with hope and deeper meaning. Truly Father, You covered all our bases in these three verses (24-26).

The Life Recovery Bible comment says, “6:24-26 The simple words of this blessing reflect God’s desire for all His people. He is the source of all blessings, grace, and peace in life; only through a relationship with God can we hope to experience the fullness of life described here. The blessing seems to build to its final word - peace (shalom). The Hebrew word for peace means much more than an absent of conflict. It implies a complete sense of well-being, health, and contentment. God offers this to anyone who is willing to follow Him and especially to those whose lives have been bruised and broken.”

Oh yes, Father. Yes. Yes. Yes.

It’s so often that we take simple words for granted. We don’t always look any deeper than mere face value. This morning the idea of You smiling on us and being gracious to us (v. 25) amazes me. My heart practically explodes in anticipation of living this day as Your beloved daughter. Thank You Daddy!

The thought of having You look with favor on us and give us peace (26) digs in more deeply every time I hear or read it. And then of course there are the various ways of saying it all.

Contemporary English Version, “May the LORD be good to you…” Easy-to-Read Version, “May the LORD answer your prayers…”

You do! You smile down on us and show us Your kindness (25). Truly, we would be lost without You.

How I ask Your blessing on us this day Precious Father. Changes are coming. Seasonal as well as personal. Be with us through every single aspect of all the things that are about to be different.

We love You. We put all of our hope and trust in Your generous, incorruptible hands. Thank You for choosing us as Your children (John 15:16).

We love You. We thank You. And we long to serve You as You desire to be served. Thank You for blessing and keeping us. Amen.

(407 words ~ 9:28 a.m.)