‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’
Numbers 6:24-26
This is the priestly blessing God gave Aaron to speak over Israel. Each line builds on the last, blessing, protection, favor, grace, and peace. It has been spoken over congregations, families, and children for more than three thousand years.
ReflectConsider speaking this blessing over your family, a friend, or your home before bed tonight.
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
This verse is a joyful declaration that each day is a gift from God. Rejoicing is a choice made at the start of the day. It is a favorite verse for morning routines and celebrations alike.
ReflectWhat is one thing about today that you could rejoice in, even before the day fully begins?
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
Psalm 139:14
David thanks God for making him wonderfully complex. It is a joyful recognition of God's careful design. It is a fitting verse to celebrate a birthday or a new life.
ReflectConsider writing this verse in a birthday card along with one specific quality you admire in the person.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
These words were first sent to people living far from home in exile, with decades still ahead before their return. God's promise of a future and a hope was meant to sustain them through a long season. It speaks of God's good intentions that remain steady even when the timeline is longer than we would choose.
ReflectHow does knowing this promise was first given for a long season of waiting shape the way you read it for your own life?
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
Moses asks God to help us number our days. Recognizing that life is brief leads to wisdom. It is a thoughtful verse for birthdays and new years.
ReflectWhat would you like to grow in during the year ahead? Consider writing it down as a birthday reflection.
May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.
Psalm 20:4
This is a blessing prayed over someone else. It asks God to grant their heart's desires and make their plans succeed. It is a warm verse for a birthday card.
ReflectWho could you bless with this verse on their birthday, adding a personal prayer for their year ahead?
Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.
Proverbs 9:11
Wisdom is described as something that adds years and richness to life. It is a lovely blessing for someone celebrating another year. It encourages seeking wisdom in the year ahead.
ReflectWhat is one way you could seek wisdom in the year ahead, perhaps through reading, mentors, or prayer?
