PRAISE THE LORD

At our weekly Bible study in a local retirement village this week I taught from Psalm 116:12, “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?” Wow! That opens up enough stuff to keep our mind busy for hours.   As we celebrate the birth of our nation I want to encourage you to think about all the many benefits you have as a result of God’s blessings on America. I’m tempted to start the list for you, but you need to do that for yourself. It might not hurt if you get a pen and paper so you can jot down those things that come to mind. It’s easy to see that we are blessed indeed—let us then be thankful!   The Psalmist was able to overcome his disappointments by keeping his focus on God and His blessings. You can do the same. As you meditate on your numerous blessings I want you to consider four things: They are (1) unlimited,(2) unsurpassed,(3) unending, and (4) undeserved. Pay especially close attention to that last one–“undeserved”. None of us are earning our way with God. All we have is the result of His grace.   If read this Psalm you will see that the writer was provoked to faithful service by his appreciation for God’s benefits. He even promised to pay his vows, promptly and publicaly. This would be a good time for all of us to do the same. As you reflect on God’s blessings, I hope your concluding remark will be, as it was with the Psalmist, “Praise ye the LORD.”