A Marriage Blessing

Our son David got married yesterday to one of the most precious young ladies we’ve ever met in one of the sweetest ceremonies we’ve ever seen.

I’ll try to post some more photos in the next few weeks, but first I wanted to share a marriage blessing the family’s dear friend and longtime pastor, Alan Bias, spoke over Bonnie the evening of the rehearsal.

Although Bonnie’s dad has not been around since she was just a little girl, God has graciously provided many surrogate fathers who have invested in her life, accompanied her to father-daughter banquets, interviewed potential suitors (our son included), provided godly counsel and guidance, walked her down the aisle on her wedding day, and waltzed with her at the reception afterwards.

Here is the blessing Pastor Alan wrote for Bonnie, although it would be a fitting prayer for any daughter or bride.

A Father’s Blessing on a Daughter’s Marriage

May the LORD bless you and keep you.
May the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
May the LORD lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace.
May the LORD reveal Himself more each day and bless those who bless you.
May the LORD be your provision and give you a long, healthy, fulfilling life.

May you have more passion for Jesus than others think necessary.
May you expect more from the Holy Spirit than others think possible.
May you experience vistas in Life than others do not even know exist.
May you see God in every star in the sky, in every flower of the field, and in every creature on Earth, for each of them was created by God’s hand.

May you walk in the purposes for which God your Father has created you.
May you have courage, gratitude, and wisdom beyond your years.
May you make choices based on Spiritual realities, not worldly realities.
May you embrace difficult circumstances as an opportunity for growth.
May you always realize, in God’s great plan, that you are strategically placed wherever God takes you, and you will have love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness and faith because the Holy Spirit lives within you.

May you be a blessing to your husband and your children and may you all become giants in the faith under the mighty hand of God, by His Grace.

You were created by God to be here for such a time as this.
You have lives to impact that are awaiting your arrival.

You have people to love and bless whom you have not yet met.
You will be all that God wants you to be and YOU WILL NOT FAIL.

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from failing and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

(c) 2015 Alan Bias. Reprinted with permission. Scripture references:
Numbers 6:24-26; Genesis 12:3; Galatians 5:22; Esther 4:14; Jude 1:24.

For a printable version of this prayer, click on the image below: