WITHWARD DISCIPLINE

BLESSING

The practice of using your words to uplift, encourage, and speak God’s truth and affirmation over people.

When you appreciate something about someone, go out of your way to tell them verbally or with a quick text. Use your words more often to uplift and encourage than to critique or complain. This can be especially transformative to practice with people who tend to irritate you.
When you are thanking someone for something, take the thank you one step further to describe a God-given quality they embody. For example, instead of “Thank you. That was so kind of you” try this: “Thank you. I have always admired your generous spirit. I felt God’s love through your generosity this week.”
Write someone a hand-written note with specific words of blessing. These could be your own words, or you could also ask God to share his words of blessing for this person with you. Consider making this a regular practice, writing one note of blessing each week or month.
For families (or friend groups): Consider a regular practice in your home where family members give and receive words of blessing to each other. Go around the dinner table and spend time blessing each person, sharing what you appreciate about them. Challenge yourself to bless each other more often for internal qualities than for actions or abilities. Invite siblings to participate as well, sharing things they appreciate about their siblings and parents.
Join the Love Writes outpost that encourages people with anonymous words of blessing. Email admin@sanctuaryri.org for more info.