When I was a boy of eleven, taking the Evangelical Free Church catechism class, I remember this blessing at the close of the four Saturdays under the tutelage of one of our pastors, who had prepared the course, a defense of the faith, reviewing the specific doctrines which that deonmination followed.

Every church service I've ever been in, was closed by the speaker with a similar prayer to cover the congregants before they left, with blessings for the week. As a teen, it didn't penetrate me so much as it pleased me as a kind sounding thought from a caring adult to spread good will on the assemblage. But a blessing is far more than a group of nice sounding phrases!

Words have power over people which we don't often understand, since the power is spiritual and extends to family, life, and events. We pray phrases and sometimes verses to loose the power of heaven to limit the reach of evil in our world. But how often do Christians pray a blessing over one another, especially in the presence of another family, a friend, or a town meeting?

A spoken blessing not only surrounds the hearer with God's protection, but returns upon the man or woman praying that benediction and bouys up their life as well! A benediction is as powerful for the submitted hearer, as it is for the man or woman who pronounces the ideas from scripture to touch the lives of the saved.

Lord, may the lives of those who read these thoughts, be lifted and blessed by your power as I pray. Protect our nation, guide our leaders, hold back the tides of evil in our land as we humbly bow before You in obedience.