Marked with Grace and Blessing

This is Psalm 67 in The Message translation. We just love these words, and as we send teams out from Bethanie this weekend to Slavonki Brod in Croatia and Lisieux here in France, this is what we are praying for them. We want these remarkable, talented young leaders to be 'marked with grace and blessing', and we want the communities they work with and the churches that meet in them to be blessed by their presence…

What more powerful prayer could there be than to long for 'far-flung people' to enjoy God? What better approach to mission could there be than to pray blessing on those we meet. Even without knowing their particular needs and circumstances, the one prayer we can always pray with confidence is that the blessings of God would fall upon them…

    God, mark us with grace and blessing! Smile! 
   The whole country will see how you work, 
      all the godless nations see how you save. 
   God! Let people thank and enjoy you. 
      Let all people thank and enjoy you. 
   Let all far-flung people become happy 
      and shout their happiness because 
   You judge them fair and square, 
      you tend the far-flung peoples. 
   God! Let people thank and enjoy you. 
      Let all people thank and enjoy you. 
   Earth, display your exuberance! 
      You mark us with blessing, O God, our God. 
   You mark us with blessing, O God. 
      Earth's four corners—honor him!