Scripture: Psalms 103 v 1 - 5: "A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."
Greetings to you all for the year of Our Lord 2023! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are ready to face this new year with confidence. It helps if we start counting our blessings.
David says bless the LORD, O my soul! From the depths of our hearts let us bless His holy name. Sing, Jesus, Prince of Peace, glory, Hallelujah! If you don't know it make up your own tune and add your own words to praise, worship and exalt our righteous King.
There is power in praise and worship. It brings us into the presence of God and He is full of love. Remember ACTS means Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.
After our praise and worship, then comes repentance for not measuring up to His love for one another. As John wrote in 1 John 1 v 7: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
When we walk, or live, in the same light as Jesus, we have fellowship with one another. Jesus said we must love one another as He loved us. So going the extra mile, turning the other cheek, giving up what we want to please or bless others should be normal, automatic behaviour. If we are out of fellowship with another Christian one of us is not walking in that light and should repent.
We must not forget all the benefits the Lord bestows upon us. He forgives all our sins if we repent and change. He heals all our diseases through the lashes on His back. He redeems our life from destruction. He crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies.
He comforts us in sorrow and loss. He knows how much it hurts and although He cannot always prevent it, He is with us to help us through it all. Our enemy lurks in the shadows seeking ways to hurt, maim, deceive or destroy us. The closer we are to Jesus, the more warning we have of his evil intentions. That makes it easier to avoid the enemy and give thanks to the Lord.
He satisfies our mouths with good things. The more time we spend with Jesus, the more fruitful are our words. We refuse to gossip or slander our fellow Christians. We do not judge, belittle or deliberately hurt them. Peter, when Jesus was arrested, was accused by the mob of being one of His followers. He denied it but they said, Your speech betrays you! He immediately started cursing like a fisherman.
So clean speech reveals your true nature to those in the world around you. 1 Peter 4 v 3 - 4:
"For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you."
When we get this right our youth will be renewed. We will fly like eagles in our spiritual growth. Our bodies will not grow old and tired. Moses was still in his full strength at 80 years old when he brought the Hebrews out of Egypt. He led them to within sight of the promised land over the next forty years still in great strength.
We are strangers passing through this world, and the world does not understand our restraints, our choices, our humility. We are completely opposite to them. Those who are curious or who admire our stance, may be drawn to the Cross of Jesus for salvation. We were once one of them. How did we escape? Share that testimony because some are listening.
Bear in mind that our God reigns over Heaven and Earth. Satan usurped His rule in Eden but lost it at the Cross. We have power over him and must not be afraid to use it to bind and rebuke his demons. Silence them when you are sharing the Word of God so that they do not steal the seed sown.
Then we can bless the Lord with all that is within us for all the great things He does, and has done for us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we bless you with our love for one another, our obedience to Your Word and our willingness to endure hardship in whatever task is before us. We pray for Your strength to carry us through 2023 and to face every situation with courage and boldness. Thank You for always being with us. In Jesus' name. Amen.