A Birthday Card From Your Creator (A 7-Day Devotional) Sample

A BIRTHDAY BLESSING

Throughout scripture, we find blessings sprinkled throughout the Old and New Testaments. One that is probably most commonly known is Aaron’s blessing on the Israelites:

“‘The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.’”
- Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)

What does it mean to bless someone? While the idea of “blessing” can seem complicated or abstract, a simple definition is: “the invoking of God's favor upon a person.” (www.dictionary.com) Essentially, a blessing is a prayer on someone’s behalf. And as you celebrate your birthday, I want to bless you!

So as you go into this year, I pray you would know…

… you are wonderfully made.

… you are loved just as you are.

… you have gifts that are meant to be shared with others.

… you are meant to grow and be more like Jesus.

… you have a purpose and it is found in Him.

… you are not alone on this journey of life.

I hope that you will also continue to pray that God blesses you with increasing knowledge of these things! These are the gifts He has for you this year!

Reflect, Pray, and Celebrate Your Birthday!

The apostle Paul often opened and closed his letters with prayers and blessings for his brothers and sisters in the church…

Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. - 2 Corinthian 13:11 (NIV)

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. - Ephesians 1:16-19 (NIV)

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. - Philippians 1:4-6 (NIV)

Today, flip through the Bible and read these verses and some of the other occasions that Paul prays for God’s people. (These are often found at the beginning and end of his letters.) Pray and ask God to show you one passage that can be a prayer for YOU in the year ahead.

For more devotionals and encouragement, connect with Jen Ludwig at www.jenludwig.com or on Instagram @jenludwigwrites.