Young People's Group

GIVING PRAISE TO GOD FROM OUR SOUL

by Pastor Mitch
August 25, 2013

Taking Time To Reflect On God, The Source Of All Blessings

The moment we have been waiting for as a Church is finally here. This Sunday, we will celebrate our 40th Bethany anniversary. We have been anticipating this day for quite some time now. To prepare well for worship, let’s take time to reflect on the source of all our special blessings and rewards, God Himself.

“Who forgives all your iniquities, 
Who heals all your diseases, 
Who redeems your life from destruction, 
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 
Who satisfies your mouth with good things, 
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” 
Psalm 103:3-4

There are five wonderful reasons why we should give praise to God. Firstly, God gives us complete forgiveness of all our sins. It brings great comfort and joy to the heart in knowing that all our sins have been forgiven by the Lord when we are repentant. When we are forgiven of much, we should in return love much. Secondly, the Lord has healed our diseases. King David recognised how it was the Lord who healed him when he was really sick. Thirdly, the Lord has also redeemed us from destruction. Redemption is something we experience when there seems to be no way out. It is the Lord who saves us from being destroyed. Fourthly, the Lord crowns us with His love and mercies. People can see His lovingkindness and tender mercies upon our lives. Last but not least, the Lord has also provided us with good food (MacSally burger) to eat so that we can be specially strengthened. It is God and God alone who has blessed Bethany these forty years.

Having A Deep Appreciation Of The Lord’s Great Mercies

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, 
Slow to anger and abounding in mercy” 
Psalm 103:8

The Lord has blessed us especially not because we really deserve it. When we look at our lives, we cannot help but see how sinful we are. We have also not done anything wonderful to merit any of the above benefits. David attributed all His blessings to the Lord’s great mercies. He reflected on how God had been most merciful, gracious and longsuffering to the children of Israel. This is in line with the core text of Exodus 34:6. God had revealed His glory to Moses that He is indeed “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth”. The word “longsuffering” means “slow to anger”. Without His mercies, we would have been destroyed long ago. As we reflect on all that the Lord has blessed us with, we should deeply appreciate how merciful He has been to us. Let’s treasure and appreciate the Lord God even more.

Offering Nothing Less Than Praise To God From The Soul

“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

How should we respond to the Lord? Let’s prepare to give to Him nothing less than praising Him from our soul. We must bless Him joyfully from all that is within us. The word “bless” in Hebrew means to “kneel and humbly praise the Lord”. He deserves nothing less than praise from the depths of our soul. Let’s not forget all the blessings that He has given to us and to take them for granted. David repeatedly told his own soul to give praise to God. As we reflect on the Lord and His mercies, there should come a deeper love and reverence for Him and His Holy name. From all that is within us, let’s seek to humbly give praise to His name and to lift it high. This Sunday, let’s prepare to give the Lord joyful praise from our soul on this 40th anniversary and always.

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