Section (1) of Ch. 3. (The Power of a Parent’s Blessing)

God’s Ancient Path : Seven Critical Times of Blessing

 

 Imparting Blessing as a lifestyle and at seven critical stages of life sets the foundation of identity and destiny that will empower generations to prosper. Although this life style of blessing is found in the Bible and is expressed through the Jewish culture. this is not just a Jewish way to live. God established these principles of blessing for every family. A lifestyle of blessing is one of God’s “ancient paths,” a term taken from the Book of Jeremiah.

 

 Thus says the LORD, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” - Jer. 6:16 -

 

 This scripture caught my attention many years ago as I realized that much of the family dysfunction in our day – the addictions, abuse, adultery, and abandonment – stemmed directly from the fact that many parents lacked rest in their souls. When a person lacks a deep, settled sense of intrinsic value (identity) and purpose (destiny), that individual’s soul will not be at rest. Instead it will continually search for love, significance, and purpose. As I have said earlier, blessing is God’s mechanism within families to bring a child’s soul into rest and impart a secure sense of value and purpose.

 

 A parent who has never received a parent’s blessing himself is continually searching for blessing and therefore cannot focus on imparting blessing to the next generation. In this passage in Jeremiah the prophet tells us that if we will ask for, embrace, and walk in God’s ancient paths, we will naturally find rest for our souls. Children who grow up in this kind of family environment will naturally experience rest in the souls.

 

 Unfortunately today none of the cultural safeguards God established to ensure blessing at these critical stages are still intact. Even a Christian parent would have to deviate significantly from the cultural norm to ensure his children were blessed at the seven critical stages in life.

 

 

Dr. Domingo (Pastor of Awesome Blesses Church in Pangasinan in the Philiipines) read this part