The Way of Withness Is the Way of Blessing
A reflection on witness, blessing, and the goodness of God from Genesis to Revelation
© 2025 Mike Hey – The Withness Way
From the Beginning, God Blessed
In the opening verses of Genesis, we meet a Creator who speaks not only light and life into being—but blessing.
“God blessed them…” (Genesis 1:28)
Before there was striving, there was blessing.
Before there was mission, there was communion.
Before humanity was sent, we were held.
Blessing was not an afterthought—it was the first word spoken over creation, covenant, and community.
It is the foundation of our relationship with God and the beginning of the Withness Way.
To bless is to release the goodness of God.
To walk in that blessing is to dwell in His presence.
Blessed to Be a Blessing
When God called Abram, He didn’t begin with commands—He began with a promise.
“I will bless you… and you will be a blessing… and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
— Genesis 12:2–3
This was not just a personal gift.
It was a prophetic pattern.
Abraham would become the father of many—not through dominance or success, but through the release of blessing.
His walk with God would overflow into the world.
This is the heart of Withness.
This is how the Kingdom comes.
Blessing Through the Story
Throughout Scripture, blessing flows not as a formula, but as a way of life:
- Isaac blessed Jacob
- Jacob blessed his sons
- Moses blessed the tribes
- David blessed the assembly
- Solomon blessed the nations
- The prophets spoke blessing, even in exile, and foretold a greater one to come
Blessing was the posture of the faithful.
It was priestly. Prophetic. Parental. Personal.
And always, it pointed forward.
And Then… Blessing Walked Among Us
Jesus, the Son of God, full of grace and truth, embodied the blessing of God.
He blessed:
- Children on His lap
- The poor, the meek, the peacemakers
- Bread, fish, and those who hungered
- Hands lifted in humility
- The unclean and the unworthy
And ultimately… He gave Himself.
The blessing became flesh.
Poured out at the cross.
Raised in glory.
Present now by the Spirit.
Jesus didn’t just teach blessing, He was the blessing.
The perfect image of the invisible God.
The echo of Genesis 1, fulfilled in a body, broken and shared.
Blessing Becomes Witness
After the resurrection, Peter declared:
“God sent Him to you to bless you…”
Acts 3:26
And bless He did:
- Healing the sick
- Lifting the shamed
- Opening blind eyes
- Restoring dignity to the broken
But the blessing didn’t stop there.
It spread through ordinary people.
Through communities of courage.
Through the Church the body of Christ, filled with His Spirit.
The Apostles Blessed, Again and Again
They began their letters with blessing:
“Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…”
And ended the same way:
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
This wasn’t polite tradition it was transformational truth.
To bless in Jesus’ name is to witness to His presence, His goodness, and His rule here and now.
Blessing is not just benediction.
It is a declaration of Kingdom reality.
It is a seed of heaven planted on earth.
Blessing the Streets – A Witness in Adelaide
Here in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, especially in Playford and Salisbury, a quiet river of grace is rising.
Through Beautiful Feet and similar expressions, followers of Jesus are walking streets, praying silently, and gently offering:
- “May God bless you with peace today.”
- “May you know His joy and presence.”
- “May Jesus walk with you and meet your need.”
Some cry.
Some smile.
Some ask for more.
But all receive a glimpse of heaven’s kindness.
One step at a time.
One simple act of withness.
One gentle blessing in Jesus’ name.
Roy Godwin and the Gift of Simplicity
The global church has been nourished through Roy Godwin’s ministry, The Way of Blessing, The Blessing Course, I Will Bless Them.
His question remains profoundly simple and deeply theological:
“Can I bless you?”
It’s not just outreach.
It’s not just kindness.
It is worship.
It is discipleship.
It is withness.
From Genesis to Revelation Blessing Is the Thread
In the final pages of the Bible, we hear it again:
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life…”
Revelation 22:14
The story ends where it began with blessing.
Because God is a God who blesses.
We are blessed.
We are called to bless.
And as we bless, we become witnesses to His glory and grace.
The blessing multiplies.
Through us.
With us.
Step by step.
The Withness Way Is the Way of Blessing
This is not a program.
This is not a platform.
This is a posture.
A way of walking in:
- Communion with Jesus
- Community with others
- Commission to bless the world
It’s the rhythm of Scripture.
The echo of Eden.
The heartbeat of Jesus.
The promise of the Kingdom.
So Let Us Walk This Way
The way of Jesus.
The way of withness.
The way of blessing.
In every home we enter
On every street we tread
Through every conversation we hold
In every relationship we tend
Let blessing rise.
Blessing Flows from Union, Communion, and Companionship
This river of blessing does not originate in our effort, eloquence, or strategy.
It flows from our union with Christ, Christ in us, the hope of glory.
As we abide in Him, His life becomes our life, and His blessing begins to flow through us.
Blessing also flows from our communion with the Father, made possible through the Son.
Every time we lift our eyes, every time we rest in His presence, every time we receive His Word in stillness and trust, we are re-centred in the love that blesses all things.
And as we walk, blessing flows in our companionship with the Holy Spirit, who has been poured out on all flesh.
We are not generating blessing.
We are catching up to it.
We are joining the Spirit in what He is already doing in our neighbours, our cities, and among the nations.
We walk today with Jesus, the Blessed One God with us.
We keep in step with the Holy Spirit—the river of living water, already poured out on all flesh.
And we walk in the Father’s loving agenda to bless every person, every place, every culture, in His name.
And we become vessels of grace, peace, healing, and hope.
Leadership Blessing
From The Withness Way by Mike Hey
May you lead with a towel in your hand
and the Father’s voice in your heart.
May your steps be shaped by grace,
and your speech be full of love.
May you wait before you run,
listen before you speak,
and stay before you send.
May your life be a thread of light,
woven into others with tenderness and truth.
May your walk be slow enough to notice
the One who walks beside you,
and bold enough to release others into the Way.
You are a son.
You are a daughter.
You are not alone.
Jesus is with you.
And that is enough.
Amen.
© 2025 Mike Hey – The Withness Way