Over the last few years, as Jan was writing her five volumes of blessings from the book of Isaiah, I have seen the power and importance of blessings and how they affect the one who receives them. 

When either Jan or I have read a blessing, we have seen the environment of a conference or a church service shift. That shift also happens when a blessing is spoken over an individual: they begin to trust God at a deeper level as the words of a blessing enter their spirit.

Blessings have existed across both covenants, empowering people to expect more of God. When the Lord initiated the power of a blessing, Scripture tells us, “Then the Levitical priests must step forward, for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in the Lord’s name” (Deuteronomy 21:5).

We no longer have Old Testament Levitical priests. Now, all believers are part of God’s priesthood in Jesus. “You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God” (1 Peter 2:9). God’s goodness is at the heart of all of God’s blessings.

This is the original blessing God gave to His priests to speak over the people. Its power still remains today. 

“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace” (Numbers 6:22-26). 

As a by-product of a blessing, God did something special, “Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them” (Numbers 6: 22-27).

As followers of Jesus, we have been given permission to pronounce blessings over people. When a blessing is released, God will step in to bring His blessing to fruition. 

When God’s blessing is released, it accomplishes things not thought possible or even imagined until a blessing is pronounced, and God Himself steps in to bless the hearer in unexpected ways.