We are continuing with our Tuesday tradition of learning and studying spiritual practices that are both helpful during this time of social distancing and generally useful for our spiritual lives anytime.
This week, we’ll explore “Blessing Others/Encouragement.” I have seen wonderful examples and heard amazing stories of how people are blessing and encouraging one another. I hope this inspires you to find ways to bless and encourage another.
Again, we’ll use Adele Ahlberg Calhoun’s Spiritual Disciplines Handbook as our guide.
“Our humanity comes to its fullest bloom in giving. We become beautiful people when we give whatever we can give: a smile, a handshake*, a kiss, an embrace, a word of love, a present, a part of our life…all of our life”
-Henri Nouwen
*Obviously, Nouwen wrote this long before our current social distancing reality. Take note of how many of Calhoun’s recommendations for this practice include physical touch. Our task in these unique days is to find ways to bless and encourage one another without physical touch or even physical presence. Think about how to do that as we learn more:
“Desire: to instill courage, confidence and hope through expressing the delight God has in others.
Definition: to bless and encourage others is to speak well of them – inspiring them with God’s own hope, confidence and delight in their belovedness.
Scripture:
“Commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people” (Deuteronomy 3:28)
“He took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:6)
“When he (Barnabas) arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” (Acts 11:23)
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Practice includes:
- Praying God’s delight into people’s lives
- Placing your hands on someone’s head, hands or feet as you declare God’s words to Jesus, ‘You are my beloved son/daughter, whom I love’ (Mark 1:11)
- Anointing someone’s head with oil as you pray for them to receive the gift of their own belovedness
- Making the sign of the cross on someone’s forehead and blessing them ‘in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit’
- Speaking or writing Scriptural words of encouragement for another
- Speaking words that empower, nurture and give courage to others
God-Given Fruit
- Builds up the body of Christ
- Fills the human hunger for blessing
- Gives strength to those who are ready to give up
- Lets others know that they are visible, appreciated and unconditionally loved by God
- Spread the delight God has in people throughout the world
- Enlarges our hearts with God’s delight
Spiritual Exercises:
- Craft a blessing for someone you know. Ask God to lead you to a Scripture that can encourage him or her. Give the gift of this blessing in person or in written form.
- Think of someone in your world who did not receive a blessing as a child. Ask them if they would be willing for you to pray a blessing over them at sometime in the future. Prayerfully ask God to lead you to a blessing for them. When you know what you want to say, write it down so the person can remember it. Plant your hands on the person’s head and speak God’s blessing over them.
- If you have children in your life, talk to them about God’s love and desire for them to use their gifts in a way that benefit the world. Encourage them about their talents and God’s work in their lives.
- Choose one day this week to bless or encourage as many people as you can. Don’t flatter. Ask God to give you divine eyesight. When appropriate, speak your truthful blessing out loud. When you can’t speak it out loud, speak the blessing to God and ask God to bless them. At the end of the day, reflect on what it was like to be one who carried the blessing of God into the day.”
-Taken from Adele Ahlberg Calhoun’s Spiritual Disciplines Handbook
Pastor Drew's Desk 