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 Freely and Frequently Praise and Thank God (October 3, 2023)

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits…” (Psalm 103:1-2).

God is most gracious to those who entrust their concerns to His tender care and seek to walk by faith in close harmony with Him, welcoming His lordship over their lives. I know this is true because I have experienced His faithfulness personally. Like most people in today’s fast-paced culture and hurry-up society, I tend to become so busy and caught up in the activities and responsibilities of daily living that I sometimes neglect to attend to those pursuits that I know will enhance my relationship with my LORD such as regular Bible reading and study, prayer and meditation, and communion and fellowship with God.

Many of us are so incredibly blessed that we tend to take our blessings for granted or forget the source of these divinely provided favors that are showered upon us from above every day. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:7) God provides for the needs of His children even to the salvation of our souls, and He alone is worthy of our highest praise and our deepest gratitude that are expressions of our love for Him. I admit that I am often negligent in giving the LORD the exaltation and thanksgiving that He richly deserves.

To correct this oversight, I’ve resolved, in both the calm and stormy seasons of my life, to be more deliberate in the expression of my adoration and appreciation to this gracious God who first loved us and gave His Son Jesus Christ to die so that we could have salvation and eternal life. Though it is difficult, instead of indulging in complaint and self-pity, I’ve found that praising and thanking God in the midst of life’s hardships is the most productive response to the trials we all face. Paying tribute to God’s goodness and giving thanks for His grace shifts our focus from life’s problems to a God of sovereign sufficiency who is carefully looking out for our best interests.

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to  Him, and bless His name.” (Psalm 100:4)



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