Bless and Praise God at All Times

“Bless Jehovah, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits;” (Psalms 103:2)

David knew how easy in our lives it is to forget all that God has done for us, especially in times of hardships. We forget how much He loves us. Doubts creep in and we forget how the Lord has brought us through past tribulations. We forget how faithful He has been. All we can focus on is the problem instead of the problem solver. We forget Who God is. We forget His promises. And we forget who we are. Doubts enter our minds because we know our flesh and the enemy is sure to remind us of our failings. So, we begin to unbiblically place God’s Goodness dependent on our faithlessness.

One of the first Scriptures every believer learns is John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) When we first surrender our lives to the Lord, our lives are so changed in our spirit and our soul (mind, will and emotions) that we know God has done something in us. We are aware that God loves us. We are embraced by His peace, love and joy in such a supernatural way, we don’t doubt the Scripture that tells us He loves us. And this conviction is what needs to remain with us as we grow in the knowledge of Jesus as Paul prayed. “...that you might walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing, being fruitful in every work and increasing in the knowledge of God, (Colossians 1:10).

But in the problem, the enemy makes sure that we focus on the problem. We forget that the Father in heaven and our God, the Creator of everything that exists loves us and chose us to be with Him and in Him. “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you.” (John 15:16) God initiated our salvation before the creation of the world. He knew us then because God knows all things, the end from the beginning. “Remember former things from forever; for I am God, and no other is God, even none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from the past things which were not done, saying, My purpose shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure; (Isaiah 46:9-10). King David declares in the Psalm 34, “...I will bless Jehovah at all times; His praise always shall be in my mouth.” (Psalms 34:1) Praise God at all times because no matter what is happening in our lives, God is still on the throne and in control. We can rest He knows what we’re going through, and it will work for our eternal good. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

In the midst of the trial, we forget His faithfulness. We forget all the times He’s healed us, all the times we messed up and He fixed things so that we came out of the fire not even smelling of smoke and all the times He kept us from the enemy’s trap to destroy us. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrew 11:1) But if we have experienced God’s hand in our difficult circumstances before, we can believe that God will help us is the present affliction. This is not a hope that God will do it. Our faith tells us that GOD WILL.  It’s a hope that the outcome will be favorable no matter if we like it how it turns out. It will always be for our good and in God’s Will.

In the anxiety of our tribulation, we forget Who God is. He is the Creator. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Why would we worry about anything? There is none greater. And God is love. He doesn’t merely have it. He is love. We get a little taste of His love when we are in His Presence. “The one who does not love has not known God. For God is love.” (1John 4:8) He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus to rescue us from the darkness. Even in our sinfulness, He loved us. “But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) He is faithful, fulfilling His promises to us. “Therefore, know that Jehovah your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.” (Deuteronomy 7:9) Our God is the Omnipotent.  Nothing is impossible for Him.  “Behold, I am Jehovah, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)

In the midst of the enemy’s confusion, he brings to us and his attempt to destroy us we forget who we are?   We are God’s child. There is nothing He wouldn’t do for us. Look at what He’s already done. God, the Creator and the only great One loves us. His love has gathered us from the ends of the world to be with Him. He has promised us good things and blessings. He desires goodness to come to us. “Bless Jehovah, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from ruin; who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies; who satisfies your mouth with good; your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Jehovah works righteousness and judgment for all who are pressed down.” (Psalms 103:2-6)

Doubts creep in because we remember our failings, defects and faults. But God doesn’t. “I, I am He who blots out your sins for My own sake and will not remember your sins.” (Isaiah 43:25) It’s not for our sakes, but for His own sake, His divine purpose. It is His Will, not to remember our sins. He has cast them from us so far, He doesn’t see them. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalms 103:12)

Ultimately, we have reason to bless the Lord, to adore Him and praise Him for Who He is, for His love and all that He has done for us. Paise Him at all times. He is worthy. Like David wrote, “I will bless Jehovah at all times; His praise always shall be in my mouth.” Remember the Lord’s faithfulness. It’s dependent on His reputation, not ours.