“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” (Ps 103:1, 2)

Are you not surprised how intimately God knows you? God is so big and you are so small, yet He knows you perfectly. Is that not enough to praise Him? Are you not amazed how God responds to you, when you are truly in need, when you pray, even if a whisper? The correct response to such tender mercies and amazing grace is to praise the Lord, to acknowledge His work in your life, to publicly testify to His goodness and power. Read Psalm 103. Nine times the word ‘all’ appears there. That means everything, 100% of all things!

Specifically, I am commanded not to forget, not to ignore or be passive about ‘all His benefits’. I have to choose to remember God’s gifts, blessing and benefits to me and my family. It is a choice! Not remember just some, but all of them! In Hebrew, the word ‘benefit’ means to reward you for your labor and service. Have you thought of it? That God knows all about your labor of love towards Him and His people? That He rewards you for all that labor? This is a great revelation: You can never lose serving God.

In the dictionary, the word ‘to benefit’ means to display kindness towards another, to give financial help in times of need, during sickness, old age or unemployment. It also means receiving extra favor from your employer, something more than your basic salary. For example, your boss gives you, health insurance, or he pays for vacation time for you and your family. God is behind all these benefits. God saves you not to suffer, but to ‘satisfy you with good things’ (v5). So, do not ignore the kindness of God towards you and your family. Meditate upon God’s Word. Think about your life…who you used to be and what God has done in you up till now. Stir up your soul today to praise Him the more! He blessed you with all benefits so you must bless Him with all your heart! For He is worthy of all your praise!

“Dear Heavenly Father, I acknowledge Your presence and Your work in my life! I am who I am today only by Your grace! I bless You today for all Your benefits towards me and my family! I bless You for my salvation, for the salvation of my husband, for our happy marriage, for the salvation of our children and grandchildren, for taking care of them as they live far away, for taking care of my old mother and my sister in Romania, for giving me a great spiritual family in Fathers House, Warri, Nigeria, for the money You give me, for the extraordinary favor with men, with strangers, for protecting me from armed robbers and kidnappers, for helping me to preach Your Word, for my health, for my peace of mind, for joy, for divine wisdom, for providing wonderful vacations to me and my family, for so many testimonies that I cannot count….for …for… for… I praise You today! I bless Your Holy Name, Jehovah God Almighty! There is no one like You! I am forever grateful, my Everlasting Father! In Jesus name Amen!”