Praying the Priestly PrayerSample

Peace that Surpasses All Understanding 

 The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the LORD lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace. —NUMBERS 6:24–26 

We tend to think of the word peace as meaning the absence of strife and war, but it is so much more! The root word is shalam, which means to make amends. 

One of the meanings of shalom is to make restitution, but its main meaning is to make something even better than its former or original state. When we have shalom, promises and blessings that were robbed from us by the enemy of our souls are restored when our heavenly Father imparts His restorative powers to us. He restores us to a right relationship with Him through the gift of forgiveness and justification. He can restore our earthly relationships. He can even restore days and years that have been lost to the effects of sin. (Joel 2:25.) That has to be the greatest evidence of the extravagant nature of G-D’s mercy. Not only can He renew your life and redeem your future, but YHWH can also redeem your past. 

When the Priestly Prayer of the Blessing is pronounced over us, shalom enables us to make up for lost time, bestows new identities, and creates new life! YHWH (our heavenly Father) promises good plans for His people, plans that include a hopeful future! 

For I know the plans that I have for you, says [YHWH], plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. —JEREMIAH 29:11 

Proclamation Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank You and praise You for Your Priestly Prayer of the Blessing. You have made me aware of how much You truly love me. Thank You for the greatest gift of all, Your shalom. Now I understand that the completeness and wholeness I shall receive each day from You through this portion of the prayer is allowing me to experience Your kingdom of heaven alive in me. When Yeshua (Jesus), Your only begotten Son, was asked by His disciples how to pray, He taught them, “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” I now understand through this priestly prayer that it’s as if I can pray, “Your Kingdom come in me. Let Your will be done in me as it is in heaven!” I realize that as I pray this prayer in Yeshua’s name, I am pronouncing it in the person of Yeshua, with His holy character and with His power and authority. Yeshua is seated in the holy of holies at Your right hand, heavenly Father. It is Yeshua (Jesus) praying it through my lips as my High Priest. I look forward to You, heavenly Father, placing Your name (shem) upon me every day.

YHWH is a God of peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:7). Through this ancient prayer, may you receive this peace, His blessing, and favor.