Written by: Justin, Next Gen Director
It is no secret that prayer is important. Even people outside the Christian faith recognize that prayer or meditation can be helpful. Whether people practice quiet reflection, make wishes, or pray to a god they do not fully know, prayer is a familiar idea to most. However, we want to take a moment to remember why praying to our God is so powerful. We also want to explore how a specific type of prayer can change the way we approach God and love those around us.
Biblical Prayer and Blessing
We often need to be reminded about the value of our prayer life. Gateway Church offers many resources on prayer, including past news articles, sermons, and chapters in our How Do I Grow booklet. The core message of all these resources is simple: prayer is how we communicate with God.
It is important to talk with God regularly about our daily lives and about his character. Prayer encourages us to know God deeply and reminds us of our constant need for a loving Savior.
There are many ways to pray. Most of us pray before meals, before bedtime, or during small group meetings. However, many people miss out on the practice of daily blessing. A prayer of blessing is a powerful way to start the morning and love others as God sees them.
You may be more familiar with prayers of blessing than you realize. Every Sunday, the final prayer or benediction is a blessing. It sends the church into the world with a prayer for protection, strength, and purpose. Even a quick mealtime prayer asks God to bless food so it can nourish our bodies.
Scripture contains many examples of prayers of blessing:
Blessing - Scripture - Focus
The Aaronic (Priestly) Blessing - Numbers 6:24–26 - Divine protection, grace, and peace
Trinitarian Blessing - 2 Corinthians 13:14 - Grace, love, and spiritual communion
Personal Blessing - 1 Chronicles 4:10 - Guidance, protection, and provision
Pastoral / Growth - Ephesians 3:14–21 - Spiritual depth, faith, and maturity
Doxological Blessing - Jude 1:24–25 - Eternal security and praise to God
Backpack Prayer Resource
On August 30, our church will take time during the pastoral prayer to bless our students for the upcoming school year. Children from Kidway will join the adults for worship and stay for this special prayer.
We will also provide Backpack Prayer Cards for every family. This set includes ten different prayers and supporting Bible verses. You can use these cards to pray a blessing over your children each morning. Ten cards provide two full school weeks of daily prayers. The topics focus on practical issues such as managing anxiety, choosing good friends, making wise choices, and finding peace.
Our hope is that your family will gather each morning to pray before stepping out into the world. You can stand together by the front door, gather around the breakfast table, sit in the car, or meet on the porch steps. You might choose to hold hands, place a hand on your child’s shoulder, or simply stand in a circle.
Starting a new routine may feel awkward at first, and it will not always go perfectly. However, remaining consistent will help form a healthy habit that points your home to Christ. You can also adapt the prayers, write your own words, or choose your own verses.
Blessings are a powerful tool to speak life, protection, and strength into others through the power of the Holy Spirit. We hope this resource serves your family well as you build a daily habit of walking with God.
Next Steps
If you want to learn more about prayers of blessing or how to practice blessing your family, consider reading The Power to Bless: How to Speak Life and Empower the People You Love by Alan Wright. You can also register for his upcoming one day Equip Class here at Gateway on October 17. If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out to any of our Next Gen Staff.
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