So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them (Numbers 6:27).

Many young men, first noticing that they can grow facial hair, will make an attempt at a beard. Regardless of how full or patchy it is – usually the latter – they will still try. And until someone tells them otherwise, they will almost certainly think it looks good. (Ask me how I know.)

For these young men in their late teens and twenties, it’s often the case that a decision to keep or remove the beard is determined by the opinion of someone else, particularly if that someone else is a crush or girlfriend. All it takes is for the right girl to approve/disapprove of the whiskers and that guy will keep/shave the beard for a good while after.

Words matter. Deciding to speak into someone’s decisions – or into any space or situation, big or small – bears the consequence of those words being productive or unproductive; are your words a blessing to this space or not?

Words of blessing aren’t merely words of affirmation or evaluation. We often put a lot of effort into our human words about human things. But a blessing is God’s Word spoken in human words by humans seeking to bless. It’s creative in the way that God is creative. Wherever we find ourselves, speaking blessing into the space calls into being something that isn’t quite there yet. We participate in God’s creative work, saying “Let there be [God’s] light” where there is only or primarily darkness.

Can your words do that?

Absolutely. What if this could be an internal check before we speak? What if we consider whether our words spoken into the space around us will put the name of the Lord on those listening? When we speak words of blessing, we put God’s name on a person or situation, marking them as belonging to God, even in the midst of darkness and chaos. It’s communicating God-given identity, “Know it or not, you belong to God.” It is a releasing of God’s life into that person, that situation, speaking God’s life into situations of death and darkness.

We can use our words to bless, love, inspire, and, yes, let that young man know that he doesn’t quite have enough for a beard yet. Words matter. Let’s put the name of the Lord in the atmosphere around us with our words. 

Consider how your words might be affecting those around you. Are you inviting Jesus into the space with yours such that his love and peace might shine and bless those listening? Will your words lay the name of the Lord upon them?