This blog post is all about may God bless you!
When we hear the phrase “May God bless you,” people are used to saying it out of habit and don’t really understand what those words mean.
Why is this so?
People say blessings before eating a meal or when someone sneezes. It’s been reduced to a cliché phrase and no longer holds the weight that it should.
But when we look closer at this comforting phrase, we can begin to understand its meaning and how God truly blesses us in many ways.
Let’s not minimize God’s capacity to bless based on an overused catchphrase.🙏🏾
In this blog post, I’ll discuss:
- Meaning of “May God bless you.”
- Facts and Truths about God’s Blessing
- Aaronic Blessing
- Psalm 67, a Psalm by David
- Deuteronomy 28 Blessings
P.S. During my prayer and research, I found so much information regarding this topic of God’s blessings. It’s no secret that the Bible has numerous stories and verses about blessings. As indicated above, I’ve just narrowed my blog post to 3 Bible chapters to ensure the post is structured & condensed.
Ready? Let’s go!
What does May God bless you mean?
When we sincerely say, “May God bless you,” we express our sincere desire that God’s grace will be poured upon those we speak to.
We are praying that God will watch over and protect them, bless their lives with goodness, and bring them joy in the midst of whatever challenges they face.
In the Bible, a blessing was of great importance. The concept of a first-born blessing was closely linked to inheritance, leading Jacob to take the birthright from Esau in the famous Genesis 25-27 story.
In many African cultures like mine, bestowing blessings is an important tradition. Before my grandfather passed away, He called me to his side and blessed me. He prayed that Jesus would be with me and guide me throughout my life.
Why I’m writing this post…
Friends, this isn’t a random post! I occasionally sit down and think about certain things or phrases.
I enjoy creative writing, and this is another article where I seek to explore the meaning of this commonly used statement.
So what is my goal?
My goal is to make you stop and think about the weight of what “May God bless you” means in your life (and that of others).
When you hear those four words, do you take a moment to think about the implications behind it? It’s easy to say those words as an afterthought or to just simply pass them off with no real meaning, but they actually have a lot of power and significance.
More than just words…
It is also important to remember that a Christian blessing can be expressed through more than just words. A simple gesture such as a hug, handshake, or pat on the shoulder can also convey care and compassion for another person.
Additionally, thoughtful acts of kindness, such as doing a favor, offering help, and blessings in cash or kind, are other ways to share God’s love and blessing with someone.
Regardless of the form it takes, expressing Christian blessings is a powerful way to remind others that God is with them always and to share His grace and love.
Knowing that you are cared for and loved by God can be an immense source of comfort and strength for those who need it.
7 Facts and Truths about God’s Blessing
As I’ve stated earlier, God’s blessing comes in many forms, and He is always eager to pour His love on us if we are willing to follow Him.
By understanding these seven characteristics of God’s blessing, may we all seek to live in a way that reflects His love.
1. Obey God for His Blessings
God promises to bless us if we obey His commands. He wants us to live according to His will, and when we do, He showers us with favor and blessings that can’t be taken away.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2, “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.”
2. God blesses us through our union with Christ.
Ephesians 1:3-5 reveals that the Father has predetermined (predestined) to give us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, “in Christ.”
As believers, this means God had chosen us before the world was even created to be adopted into His family and partake in His life-giving promises.
We should be filled with hope, joy, and gratitude for His blessings. He blesses us through Christ so we can honor Him in our lives. Praise God for His immeasurable blessings!🤗
Ephesians 1:3-5, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonshipthrough Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—”
3. Use Blessings as a Witness
God often uses the blessings He gives us to show others who He is. By blessing us, God shows that He loves us and wants to bring joy into our lives.
Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
4. Share and Receive God’s Blessings (Blessed to be a blessing)
God blesses us so we can be a blessing to others. We are called to use the gifts and blessings God has given us to help others in need.
Acts 20:35, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. “
5. Blessing Span Multiple Generations
God’s blessings don’t just impact us; they affect our children and our grandchildren too! By blessing us, God is showing His love for generations to come. In Deuteronomy 7:9, we are told that God’s promises are for a thousand generations. Also look at how God honored his promise to bless Abraham! His seed (Jacob et.al) was blessed!
Deuteronomy 7:9, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,”
6. Stewardship of God’s Blessings
One way God blesses us is by entrusting us with what He has given us. We are called to be good stewards of all we have, using them for His glory.
Luke 16:10-12 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
7. God’s Blessings Are Both Spiritual and Physical
God not only gives us spiritual blessings but also physical blessings. These can take the form of tangible items like money and possessions or even intangible things like health, joy, and peace.
James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Aaron benediction
The Bible has a lot to say about blessings, but perhaps the most famous passage is Numbers 6:24-26. In this verse, God instructs Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with these words:
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
The Bible verse Numbers 6:24-26 is known as the Aaronic Benediction, and it was an expression of love from God through His chosen people.
In this passage, God promises His people that He will protect them and bring His presence into their lives. Furthermore, He will make His face shine upon them and be gracious to them. Lastly, God promises His peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
P.S. I had a powerful dream in 2020 that tied to the Aaronic Blessing. It’s called: Urgent Revelation: Remain in His Presence!
New Testament Blessings…
As mentioned in the previous section, Aaron was the High Priest of Israel. He performed a special blessing for God’s people as commanded by God (Num 6:23-27). This blessing revealed the heart of our heavenly Father and His desire to bless us with peace, joy, and well-being.
However, I want to note that the New Testament reveals a greater High Priest than Aaron, Jesus. After His resurrection and before He ascended to the right hand of God, Jesus spoke a blessing over his disciples (Luke 24:50). This blessing was one of hope and strength for those who would go out into the world as His ambassadors.
Now, through faith in Him and by His grace, we have access to the Father – not through a human priest, but through the great High Priest, Jesus Christ (Heb 4:14-16). He is our mediator and advocate before the Father. We can confidently approach Him with our requests, knowing He will guide, protect, and show us mercy.
Jesus’ blessing reveals His heart for all who turn to Him in faith and obedience. He desires to be with us, to pour out His love on us, and to lead us in the life for which we were created – a life of peace, joy, abundance, and hope (John 10:10).
Psalms 67
Psalm 67 is one of the 150 Psalms found in the Bible. Although the author is unknown, Spurgeon attributes this Psalm to King David. Spurgeon writes, “No author’s name is given, but he would be a bold man who should attempt to prove that David did not write it.”
Let me dissect the Psalm; you will see beautiful principles about God’s blessing!
Psalms 67 begins with the Aaronic blessing, which reads, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us” (Psalm 67:1). This invocation expresses a prayer that God’s presence will be with them.
In verse 2 of the Psalm, we see that the prayer of blessing isn’t for selfish gain; rather, the Psalmist states, “So that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” This ties beautifully with my initial point that we are blessed to be a blessing! Not to hoard possessions for our own personal enrichment.
In verse 3, we must understand the assignment- that we will Praise the Lord once He blesses us. Let us not forget the gift giver! The psalmist states, “May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.“
The Psalm continues with an appeal for God to make His ways known on earth so that all people may come to know Him and worship Him. The author emphasizes the importance of praising God for His goodness, which He has bestowed upon Israel: “May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you govern the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.”
The psalmist then affirms God’s promise that those who seek Him will find Him: ” Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us” (verses 5-6).
Deuteronomy 28 Blessings
We can also look to Deuteronomy 28 for more insight into the different ways in which God blesses us. This chapter gives us a detailed outline of the various areas in which we will receive blessings by being obedient to His commands.
Deuteronomy 28 contains the blessings and curses that Moses gave the people of Israel as they prepared to enter their Promised Land. The chapter was given as a reminder of God’s promises for obedience and warnings about potential consequences for disobedience.
Here are some of the blessings mentioned:
- God will bless us in the city and country (Verse 3).
- Blessed with fertility, fields yielding abundant crops (Verse 4).
- Financial abundance (Verse 5,12).
- All-around blessings (when you come in & go out) (Verse 6)
- Protection from harm and safety from enemies (Verse 7).
- Blessings on everything you put your hand to (Verse 8)
P.S. Deuteronomy 28:1-14 is super important. I encourage everyone to memorize it and remember that these shall be your portion once you obey the Lord and follow his commands!
May God bless you quotes
Here are the top 5 Christian quotes that warmed my heart. They tie beautifully with the truths about God’s blessing!
- “However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts.” John Calvin
- “God has a way of giving by the cartloads to those who give away by shovelfuls.” Charles Spurgeon
- “Concentrate on counting your blessings and you’ll have little time to count anything else.” -Woodrow Kroll
- “An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others.” –A. W. Tozer
- “God bestows His blessings without discrimination. The followers of Jesus are children of God, and they should manifest the family likeness by doing good to all, even to those who deserve the opposite.” –F.F. Bruce
A Prayer to understand God’s blessing
Heavenly Father,
I come before You to thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed upon me. From Your unconditional love to Your guidance and protection, I recognize that my life would be utterly incomplete without You.
I pray that through these blessings, I may never take them for granted but instead continue to be thankful and recognize Your greatness. Help me to understand the magnitude of all I have been given and that it does not come from myself but only from You. Allow me to use what You have provided for the benefit of others—to spread kindness, peace, and joy throughout my life.
Help me remember that Your blessings are not limited to only one part of my life but encompass all areas—physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and more. Fill me with a spirit of praise, gratitude, and thankfulness so that I can share the joy of Your love with others. May I always be mindful of the abundance You have given me and never take it for granted.
Thank You for giving me an abundance of blessings more than I could ever imagine. I am forever grateful for all You have done and will continue to do.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
And that’s it, folks, May God bless you
We should never take the phrase “May God bless you” lightly, as its power and significance go way beyond the surface of what we might think!
Let us use this phrase not only as a formality but as a way or challenge to offer blessings for those around us in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Lastly, feel free to check out my post on the Jabez Prayer, which is a blessing prayer!
P.S. This song has been on my heart these past two days. I love you, Jesus. ❤️
Hugs,
FAQ’s
Yes, it is correct to say, “May God bless you.” This phrase is often used in Christianity to express one’s hope that the Lord favors and protects the recipient of the blessing. It can also be a way of conveying the love and care of God to someone else.
Wishing someone blessings can also be done in many different ways, depending on the occasion. For example, one can use phrases such as “May the Lord bless and keep you,” “May God fill your heart with joy,” or “God be with you.” Although these phrases differ from “May God Bless You,” but they can be alternatives.
When wishing someone blessings, you can use “May God Bless you.” However, it is essential to be sincere and remember that we ask God for His favor and protection. Pause and ensure you aren’t saying this phrase as a repeated catchphrase often overused and misconstrued as a greeting.
When we say, “May God bless you,” we are praying for the recipients to receive God’s promises, protection, safety, and success in life. It is a powerful reminder that God is a good God who desires to bless us. It is the heart of the Father (God) to give what is good.