Begin With Prayer
Unlocking God's Blessings Through Intentional Intercession
Ever notice how often we use the word "blessed"? We hashtag it on social media, say it after meals, and throw it around when life feels good. But here's a question worth pondering: What if being blessed isn't really about what we accumulate, but about what we give away?
That's the heart-shift we explored this week as we kicked off our summer series on blessing our neighbors. And it all starts with one simple, powerful practice: prayer.
God Blesses Us to Bless Others
When God promised Abraham in Genesis 12 that He would bless him, it wasn't just for Abraham's benefit. God said, "I will bless you... so that all the families of the earth will be blessed through you." That's the pattern throughout Scripture—God blesses us not to make us comfortable, but to make us conduits of His love.
Think about your own faith journey. Someone invited you to church. Someone spoke Jesus' name over you. Someone loved you well enough that you wanted what they had. You didn't stumble into faith alone—you were blessed by someone who had been blessed before you.
This summer, as routines shift and schedules change, we have a fresh opportunity to be that blessing for others. But we can't do it in our own strength or with our own strategies.
Jesus' Example: A Night in Prayer
Before Jesus chose His twelve disciples, He did something remarkable. Luke 6:12 tells us He "went out to the mountainside to pray and spent the night praying to God." An entire night! Not because He was indecisive, but because He knew the importance of aligning with His Father's heart before making such a significant decision.
Jesus didn't pick His favorites or the most talented. He chose the ones His Father directed Him to—including Judas, who would betray Him. This wasn't about human wisdom; it was about divine guidance.
Here's the challenge for us: We're quick to make plans and execute strategies, but how often do we skip the prayer part? When we approach our neighbors, coworkers, and family members with our own agenda instead of God's direction, we're aiming way too low. We're limiting ourselves to what we're comfortable with rather than stepping into what God can do through us.
Abiding Before Acting
Jesus said it plainly in John 15: "Apart from me, you can do nothing." Our job isn't to manufacture spiritual fruit or force conversions. Our job is to abide in Him—to stay connected, to listen, to walk in step with His Spirit. When we do that, He produces fruit through us that we could never create on our own.
Your Next Step: Download and Pray
This week, we're inviting everyone to download the Bless app. It's a simple tool that helps you map out your neighbors and reminds you to pray for them by name. Not generic prayers, but specific, intentional intercession for the people God has placed right around you.
Start there. Begin with prayer. Ask God to bless you—not just for your sake, but for theirs. Ask Him to open doors, soften hearts, and give you eyes to see opportunities you'd otherwise miss.
Summer is busy with ball games, vacations, and new routines. But what if this summer became your most spiritually fruitful season yet? Not because you worked harder, but because you prayed more intentionally and let God work through you?
Heavenly Father, we come to You hungry for Your blessing—not just for ourselves, but for the people You've placed around us. Teach us to abide in You, to listen for Your voice, and to walk in Your power. Use us this summer to be a blessing to our neighbors, our coworkers, our families. We can't do this on our own, but we trust that You will work through us as we remain connected to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.