Blessings and prayer are similar in that they are offered in dependence on God and in his name. There are some nuanced differences between blessings and prayers.
PRAYERS TEND TO BE SPOKEN TO GOD ON BEHALF OF OTHERS.
For example: Father, I pray for Billy today that you would draw him close to you.
BLESSINGS TEND TO BE SPOKEN TO OTHERS ON GOD’S BEHALF.
For example: Numbers 6:22-27
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying,
Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
“So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
BLESSINGS CAN ALSO BE CRAFTED FROM SPECIFIC QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS FOUND THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE.
For example: the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES OF BLESSINGS FROM SCRIPTURE
I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God, in Jesus’ name. from Ephesians 3:17-19
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God the Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your heart and strengthen you in every good deed and word, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. from 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. from Romans 15:13
