You pray—probably daily—for other people to be “blessed,” right? Blessed with health, strength, happiness and more. In fact, I do so often, using the blessings found throughout the Bible. Until recently, it had never occurred to me to bless myself in prayer. But I’ve found that changing just a few words in biblical blessings helps me to pray God’s Word—and my own desires—for myself. Here are a few examples of the blessings I’ve been praying for myself, straight from the Bible (starting with my favorite, the Aaronic blessing):
1) “Lord, bless me and keep me; smile on me and be gracious to me; look my way and give me peace” (based on the author’s paraphrase of Numbers 6:24-26).
2) “God, be gracious to me and bless me and make Your face shine upon me” (based on Psalm 67:1, NIV).
3) “God, bless me abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that I need, I will abound in every good work” (based on 2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV).
4) “Let me experience the love of Christ, though it is so great I will never fully understand it and let me be filled with the fulness of life and power that comes from You” (based on Ephesians 3:16, NLT).
5) “Let my love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that I may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God” (based on Philippians 1:9-11, NIV).
6) “Let me be strengthened with all power, according to God’s glorious might” (based on Colossians 1:11a, NLT).
7) “Let me be filled with joy” (based on Colossians 1:11b, NLT).
8) “Master, pour out Your love so it fills my life and splashes over on everyone around me” (based on 1 Thessalonians 3:12, The Message).
9) “Let the Lord of peace Himself give me peace at all times and in every way” (based on 2 Thessalonians 3:16, NIV).
Love, peace, knowledge and insight, strength, joy, grace, purity, the fruit of righteousness, every good work and the smile of God—who doesn’t want those things? For those we love, yes, but also for ourselves. So try it; bless yourself in prayer and wait to see how God answers.
