
Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Psa 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Psa 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Psa 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Gratitude, It's one of the most important spiritual principals to develop! It fills us with Joy when all other methods fail.
When life is dark, count your blessings, "forget not all His benefits", and watch as your light will go from a flicker to a bright flame, from dark and dreary to filled with hope.
This Psalms lists His benefits, benefits of Loving Him who gave all life, this marvelous planet and His very Son that we might bask in His mercy and Lovingkindness.
I find it Amazing how King David found in his relationship with the Father, mercy and forgivness that Jesus brought to the Law through his death , burial and resurrection.
Have you ever thought about what it means to bless the Lord?
We ask the Lord to bless us, yet can you believe he wants us to bless Him? He does. And, just how do we bless Him?
The Hebrew word that is translated "to bless" is baw-rak' which is a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration).
There it is, the principal of Gratitude, it is our grateful heart that blesses God. Think of how much joy and pleasure our own children bring us when they are Grateful for the things we have done for them. On the flip side think of how much pain we experience when our children are ungrateful and hateful towards us. Seriously folks God is our Father, our creator, our supply of life and all things in it, can you find something to be grateful for?
Mat_7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
I know it can be hard when we are experiencing pain or difficulties in our lives, it's easy to blame God rather than thank Him. Don't think I mean to ask you to thank Him for the pain, nor should you thank Him for the difficulties for Jesus told us who the source of that is, "Joh_10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
Paul gave us a simple way to bless the Lord, "Php_4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Another simple way to break a bad mood, or a time of pain is one Paul and Silas demonstrated while unjustly jailed, "Act 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. " God was so blessed He released all of the prisoners not just Paul and Silas, And through their witness Paul and Silas freed the soul of the Jailer. Wow ! what a mighty way to bless God.
Here is my point blessing God should be our greatest daily goal. We bless God through thanksgiving, heart felt thanksgiving, through song and worship, through Love and he will "...so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. "
One more quick thought, how many of you want to bless your children with gifts or help when they are being difficult, ungrateful, disrespectful, demanding, or downright defiant, remember we are made in God's Image and Likeness, so the next time you are being demanding with God check yourself and remember how you feel when your own treat you with that attitude.
Taking a daily inventory of our self and our behaviors helps to keep the channel between you and God open and the Loving relationship flowing, that is the subject of my books, "The Ten Commandments A Guide to Holiness" you may download a free copy HERE or purchase them on Amazon.com HERE
Thank-you