Benediction. This is one of the parts of the service that I love. There is something about someone holding their hands up to God and asking for blessing on His people. There is a sweetness to it - an authentic caring. It offers a sense of protection, guidance and direction, and assurance of being part of God’s family.
The definition of benediction is: 1. Religion-the invocation of a blessing: a prayer of benediction, especially the short blessing with which public worship is concluded. 2. Something that promotes goodness or well-being. A benediction is simply a blessing spoken at the end of a worship service. The closing prayer is designed to send followers on their way with the blessing of God after the service. A benediction invites or asks God for divine blessing, help, guidance, and peace.
In benediction, the bene root is joined by another Latin root, dictio, "speaking", so the word's meaning becomes something like "well-wishing". Perhaps the best-known benediction is the so-called Aaronic Benediction from the Bible, which begins, "May the Lord bless you and keep you". Here are some examples:
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.—Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.—Psalm 121:7–8
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.—Romans 15:5–6
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.—Ephesians 3:20–21
And for a special treat, listen to this and rest in this special benediction.
https://youtu.be/NWIv_grvCG8 Benediction (As You Go) ~ Selah
And now I pray…. Lord, be with us now to strengthen us; about us, to keep us; above us, to protect us; beneath us, to uphold us; before us, to direct us; behind us, to keep us from straying; and 'round about us, to defend us. Blessed are You, O Father, forever and ever.
Amen.