The Blessing of Putting Your Hands on Your Spouse

I think it’s a blessing for a husband to put his hands on his wife. If a husband tells me he has never put his hands on his wife, I would ask, “Why not? You must not love your wife.” If a wife tells me she has never put her hands on her husband, I would honestly question her love for him. It is unfortunate that more spouses aren’t putting their hands on one another. I think there is a benefit to spouses putting their hands on one another.

In the Old Testament, fathers often laid hands on their children and spoke a blessing over them:

But Jacob crossed his arms as he reached out to lay his hands on the boys’ heads. He put his right hand on the head of Ephraim, though he was the younger boy, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, though he was the firstborn.Then he blessed Joseph … Genesis 48:14

Moreover, in the New Testament, people often laid hands on one another and blessed one another in the name of the Lord. Jesus laid his hands on children and imparted a blessing to them:

Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. Mark 10:16

Early Christian leaders often laid hands on those people who served the church or went out to preach the gospel.

Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. Acts 13:1-3

As a result, God imparted a blessing. So, when we lay hands on someone and ask God to bless them, what are we saying? Blessing speaks of well-being, wholeness, health and all kinds of prosperity. Now, what husband would not want this kind of blessing for his wife, and what wife would not want this for her husband?

So, why not lay hands on your spouse and bless her or him today? Pray a blessing for spiritual fruitfulness and prosperity, good health, long life, restoration, wholeness and intimacy with God. Lay your hands on your spouse and pray for God’s Spirit to anoint your spouse with power, wisdom and favor at home and work.

Therefore, take time today to lay your hands on your spouse. Pray for God’s blessing to overflow in his or her life. Speak God’s blessing into everything she does and every relationship he has. Try this: Lay hands on your spouse’s head and pray Numbers 6:24-26 over your spouse.

The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace.

I hope this ancient blessing will be an oil of gladness poured over your spouse, and God will give them power, wisdom, grace, peace, wholeness, and prosperity.

How do you think your spouse would react if you blessed them in this way? 

How would you react if your spouse blessed you in this way?