DAILY BIBLE

Devotional

Then he blessed Joseph and said, “May God, the God before whom my grandfather Abraham and my father, Isaac, walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life, and the angel who has kept me from all harm— may he bless these boys. May they preserve my name and the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father, Isaac. And may they become a mighty nation.” 
—Genesis 48:15-16

Israel’s blessings started with the word may. As Jacob laid his hands upon the heads of Ephraim and Manasseh, he uttered the word and invoked a blessing with it three times. 

The psalmist blessed Israel with equal force: “May the Lord respond to your cry. May the God of Israel keep you safe. . . . May he send you help. . . . May he remember all your gifts. . . . May he grant your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory. . . . May the Lord answer all your prayers” (Psalm 20:1-5). 

The word may could be translated “allow.” In other words, allow God to do what He wants to do for you. You must settle in your mind forever that God wants to bless you. Any doubt will always result in questioning His desire to answer your prayers or to increase, deliver, and help you. 

God’s Word has the same power to bless you, as did Jacob’s words for his grandsons. “Pay attention, my child, to what I say. Listen carefully. Don’t lose sight of my words. Let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they bring life and radiant health to anyone who discovers their meaning” (Proverbs 4:20-22). 

May the Lord bless you today!