What does it mean to "bless the LORD" in our daily lives? Blessing the LORD in Scripture “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” (Psalm 103:1) The Hebrew verb translated “bless” here is barak, which literally pictures kneeling in adoration. Scripture shows that to “bless the LORD” is to ascribe to Him the honor, gratitude, and love He deserves. Why the Infinite God Welcomes Our Blessing • He delights in heartfelt praise (Psalm 147:11). • He created us for His glory (Isaiah 43:7). • He first blessed us—“He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing” (Ephesians 1:3). Our blessing is simply a fitting response to His prior, immeasurable goodness. Everyday Ways to Bless the LORD • Words of Praise – Begin and end the day echoing David: “His praise will always be on my lips” (Psalm 34:1). – Sing or speak Scripture aloud; it moves praise from thought to expression. • Grateful Remembrance – Psalm 103:2 urges, “do not forget all His kind deeds.” List daily mercies—health, provision, salvation—and thank Him specifically. – Keep a journal of answered prayer and unexpected blessings. • Obedient Living – Jesus links love and obedience (John 14:15). Choosing righteousness in hidden moments blesses Him as surely as sung worship. – Offer your body “as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1). Mundane tasks done unto Him become worship. • Generous Giving – Proverbs 3:9: “Honor the LORD with your wealth.” Sharing resources blesses the Giver by reflecting His generosity. – Give time and talents as well as money; service to others is service to Him (Matthew 25:40). • Trust and Rest – Psalm 28:7: “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.” Trust counters worry and exalts His faithfulness. – Practicing Sabbath rest declares He is sufficient and worthy of our confidence. • Public Witness – Psalm 96:3: “Declare His glory among the nations.” Openly credit God for successes and endure trials with hope (1 Peter 3:15). – Integrity at work, kindness in traffic, honesty online—all put His character on display. Guardrails That Keep Our Blessing Genuine • Reject empty ritual (Isaiah 29:13). The mouth must match the heart. • Maintain humility; we bless Him because He first stooped to bless us (James 4:6). • Stay Scripture-saturated so praise is rooted in truth, not sentiment (Colossians 3:16). The Lifelong Cycle 1. God blesses us with grace and every good gift (James 1:17). 2. We respond by blessing Him through praise, trust, obedience, and witness. 3. He, in turn, delights to pour out further grace (Psalm 67:7). This cycle shapes each ordinary day into a living doxology: every thought captive, every word seasoned with gratitude, every deed echoing, “Bless the LORD, O my soul.” |
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