Beauty of Blessing
By Emil C. Liko

…Bless and do not curse." Romans 12:14

I needed something at work but didn't know where to find it. When I asked the person who could tell me, he responded bluntly, "I don't have time for you." I was offended and for the next 30 seconds, I muttered some choice words to myself about this person as I walked away. Then I heard the Lord say to me, "If you speak blessing over him, instead of cursing, he will come." Obviously, this wasn't my natural inclination! But, setting my feelings aside, I said, "All right, Lord." And I began to pray for the Lord to bless him. After five minutes of praying, this man was at my side, apologizing, and asking what he could do to help me!

The Lord explained later, "When you cursed him, you kept him away. All of your words have an effect upon him." When Jesus said to the fig tree in Matthew 21:19, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again," the Bible says it immediately withered away. Mark 11:20 says the fig tree dried up from the roots. Peter then said to Jesus, "Look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away." Jesus' words to the fig tree resulted in wilting, withering and death.

I began to see in the Bible that every time God spoke a blessing, it happened. Every time He spoke a curse, it happened. Jesus said we would do all the things He did and more… could this pertain to our words also?
Our words are powerful…they carry the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21). Cursing causes calamity. It affects not only the one I curse, but myself as well. Cursing captivates my thoughts toward a person, and I carry around the offense. Although our natural tendency as humans may be to automatically curse those who hurt us, Jesus says in Luke 6:27, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you."

Why? When we bless someone, we set them at the feet of Jesus. We release them, realizing it's not ours to judge. Blessing breaks the bondage that we created. "When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16: 7)"

James 3:10 says, "Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing…these things ought not to be so." I strongly feel that the Lord has been checking me about my words because of the spiritual implications that I don't see.

Am I saying that I've mastered this? No! But I am confident because the Bible says, "The good work that He has started in us, He will carry on to completion. (Philippians 1:6)"

"…the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (Galatians 5:6)"

Blessing is a beautiful thing!
BLESSINGS IN 2004!