O My Soul, Bless God

Most of us know what it is to receive blessing from someone or from God. We know what it means to be blessed or when we are not. When we are granted an answer to prayer; when we see the benefits of this life of faith; when our family is healthy, safe, happy; when we experience peace amidst the storms of life. These are all blessings. We seek God's blessing, we even grant God's blessings to others on a whim (Ah Choo! God Bless you!) But what does it mean to bless God?

Today's scriptures include two songs about blessing God. "O my soul, bless God." or as many of you would remember it better, "bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me bless his holy name." (Psalm 103:1, KJV) I used to struggle to bless God. I didn't understand it. God is the one who blesses, how could I ever offer anything back to God that could be considered a blessing? I didn't think there was anything I could ever give God that God didn't already have. I mean, doesn't God already own everything? Isn't that the meaning of the phrase, "for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills."(Psalm 50:10, NIV) So how can I bless God?

Well the truth is God doesn't have everything or own all. Our lives, though created by God are not God's. That is unless we give them away! To give God blessing is to give our lives back into God's hands. It is to not only recognize God's forgiveness, but to embrace it. It is not just to believe He heals, but to expect it. It's not to simply claim salvation, but to live it. It's not to accept God's love and mercy as a crown, but to wear it.

To bless God literally is to kneel, barak in Hebrew. It's a sign of humility, of honor, of praise, of readiness. That's right, readiness. It's a sign that at every moment, at the drop of a hat, we are at God's disposal to be judged, to be used, to be called to action on God's behalf. It's what the Psalmist describes like this from The Message,

"So bless God, you angels,
ready and able to fly at his bidding,
quick to hear and do what he says.
Bless God, all you armies of angels,
alert to respond to whatever he wills.
Bless God, all creatures,
wherever you are -
everything and everyone made by God.
And you, O my soul, bless God!" (Psalm 103:20-22)

To bless God is to be faithful and obedient...

...and ready when God calls.

I'm blessed, are you?

Then let's bless God today!

Peace ><>
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