2 minute read
Speak Life, Speak Future Speak Hope
from March 2022
Gò0dNews for Family
Speak Life, Speak Future, Speak Hope
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by Paul McGuire
In almost every culture, at least in times past, grandparents would speak a blessing over their children, importantly, their heritage. In the Scriptures, there are many instances. The words of blessings were considered prophetic, so good words were treasured and revered.
We knew of this before our young ones were born, so as they came along, I wrote out some things as blessings over them or that I felt were God’s plans for them.
More recently, I (and their Nana) have thought more about this practice. What our Father has been showing us is that we must speak not just a blessing, but prophetic words which call to the future, to times ahead as God’s plans emerge. He has shown us characteristics in them which He plans to use. Those may be only faintly visible now, but we must call those things to manifest in the appropriate season.
Zechariah was old enough to be the grandfather of his little son John. He spoke prophetically the plans of God over that tiny little boy. Likely, it was not until after his death that John the Baptizer walked out his father’s words.
“Children are a gift (a heritage) of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3).
Have you blessed your children? How about their children? Have you spoken Life over them? Do you speak Life over them? God has given us “a future and a hope.” Do your words reflect those promises? Words matter. Prophecy proclaims the end from the beginning. It gives the little ones a target, a goal, a call to a future assignment. They may be little guys now, but our words of God’s blessing pull them forward. Those words give direction. Encourage them to learn and speak God’s Word. Here are two verses I learned before I could even read, that set a pattern in my life:
“Thy word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against Thee” (Ps 119:11).
Both my parents and my mom’s mother, in particular, always encouraged me (and my siblings) in this way. What a life-long and fruit-bearing blessing this has been for us!
Please, do this with your family. And speak over other little ones around you; some have no one to do this! Speak Life, the blessing of the Lord, to and over those around you—even to adults. It’s God’s plan for the earth. Speaking His Words establishes the Kingdom of God in the world. And all who love Life will benefit. “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path.”
About The Author Paul McGuire has been born again for almost 60 years, and has pursued to hear God’s Voice through all those years. He and his wife Teresa of 49 years are active at Living Word Church in Cleveland, Tennessee. They have two children and five grandchildren.
