Cedric Fisher: "earnestly contending for the faith."

Grateful to God for all of His blessings and benefits.

I woke up this morning as usual with a song in my mind and thanking God. I was reminded of what the psalmist wrote:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”— Psalm 103:1

Are we truly blessing the Lord God when we merely say, “Bless the Lord”? It is not possible to speak a blessing upon the Lord God. I mean, if your car was broken beyond repair, and someone gave you a new car, you would feel blessed and give abundant thanks to and praise God. But the blessing materialized to you as a new car. How does the mouthing of blessing become a blessing to God?

I can tell you how it does not become a blessing. When speaking the phrase, “Bless the Lord,” is rote or does not come from a faithful soul. The same applies to people that thank God as a rote practice or an off-the-cuff remark when they find their missing glasses.

God is not blessed by our mouthing a “Bless the Lord” no more than you are blessed when someone knows your car went kaput and says, “I’ll think about you.” So?

God is blessed when our “Bless the Lord” comes from a deeply grateful soul that is poignantly aware of his or her benefits from God. People pick out the phrase “Bless the Lord,” but most do not read the rest of what the psalmist wrote.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” — Psalm 103:2-5

It is not difficult to realize that the psalmist had spent some time thinking of all God’s benefits in his life. The phrase, “Bless the Lord” was not just a casual utterance or something he uttered because it seemed the religious thing to do.

It was an eruption of gratitude from his soul. The words mean little to God, but when compelled and empowered by deep and near speechless gratitude, they convey a pleasing sacrifice of praise.

Therefore, it is not our words that bless God, but our words that are soaked with gratitude blesses or pleases Him.

I am grateful today. Although the world may groan, complain, and bemoan its state, I take time to assess my condition. Spiritually and physically I am bestowed with many of God’s benefits. All around me today there may be many calamities. People will be in angst, or angry, depressed, or their spirits crushed or enraged, but as the psalmist wrote:

“He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.” —Psalm 107:29

Godly Thomas Zimmerman, whom I greatly admired, once remarked, “Remember, when you’re in the storm, the storm doesn’t have to be in you.”

In this time of turmoil in politics and evil shenanigans, when people are obsessed with things they cannot control, It is time to put our hope fully in God. I do not want the storm in me—and life is full of storms.

There is no greater way to have a grateful heart than to search the treasure chest of your soul and realize all of God’s benefits. Then you can do something truly marvelous. You can bless the Lord.

Can you imagine what He is hearing from the majority of people in our nation right now? Is it a blessing to Him? Would we rather be a blessing than receive one?

“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” — Psalm 107:31

2 Comments

  1. paula knutson

    Mr. Fisher I would like to thank you for your recent articles, they have been very true and excellent advice and warning. It’s extremely difficult to navigate the strange uncharted waters lately. There are honestly so few voices of truth out there. Be encouraged in the Lord to keep speaking what the Lord gives you. I very much appreciate it, as I’m sure other do. I pray for you daily to be led by the Holy Spirit.

    Thank you,
    Paula Knutson

    • C.H. Fisher

      Thank you for the encouragement. There are days when it is like a time of refreshing.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

© 2024 TruthKeepers

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑