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"The LORD is more pleased when we do what is just and right
than when we give him sacrifices." Proverbs 21:3(NLT)
"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 (KJV)
At church
in our praise and worship service we are often encouraged to
bless God. At first I thought that rather a strange comment.
After all, I thought, aren't we the ones who should
supposedly be asking God to bless us.
How could
we, lowly sinners, possibly bless the "All Knowing God" who
created everything? But after that phrase was repeated to us
on several occasions it started me to thinking.
I can
remember when our children were small; I always felt pride
when someone commented on my well behaved children. I
certainly felt blessed to have children who listened to
their father and mother and conducted themselves well, doing
what was right, when they were out in public.
I recall,
too, how blessed I felt when our children played well with
their siblings, playmates or found camaraderie with their
classmates.
I was also
pleasantly pleased to hear one of our children speak a good
word about Bill or me to one of their friends. I felt
blessed to hear them speak words of praise about their
parents, those who loved, instructed and disciplined them.
As I sat
in the stands and watched our boys throw the softball, or
pass the basketball or compete on the track team, or watched
our daughters cheer for the home team I felt blessed to have
such healthy, talented children.
Like wise
I was blessed as I watched them participated in Christian
Athletic organizations, attend Bible school, or play in the
praise band, or set in the church pew or participate in
other church activities. Indeed they were doing what was
right not only in my eyes but in the eyes of God.
Bill, my
husband, our children's father, I am sure felt blessed to
have his boys help in our restaurant business needed them.
Yes, Bill
and I have been blessed over and over again by the good
deeds, actions or words of our children.
It was
then my thoughts began to ponder on the way we who are
Christians can bless our heavenly Father.
When we as
children of God praise Him in worship or singing songs of
praises I am sure He delights in our admiration of Him.
As
Christians when we witness with words to other people I am
sure He swells with joy and is blessed to have His children
speak of Him to others.
When we
communicate with Him in prayer, or do deeds of kindness to
our fellow man, or read daily from His word, I am sure our
God feels blessed to have such obedient, helpful loyal
children.
When we
ask for forgiveness of our sinful ways, or thank Him for His
blessings to us, or grace our food before we consume it, or
provide for the less fortunate, helping those who are in
need, I am sure we are blessing the one who knew us before
we were formed in our mother's womb.
I know how
we as parents felt when our young children were always
asking for something, then how we felt as they matured and
discovered their responsibility to give back.
We as
parents feel blessed to realize our children have learned to
honor and respect our authority, and mature into responsible
loving caring adults, who are doing what is just and right.
When I
began to think about the ways we parents are blessed by our
children I begun to understand how our heavenly Father is
blessed and delighted by we who have matured and learned we,
too, can bless Him by our words deeds and actions and doing
that which is right.
I am sure
God must feel especially pleased when we exhibit kindness,
fairness and justice in dealing with our fellowman; He then
sees we love as He loves, and He must be extremely blessed.
Prayer:
God help me in my desire to do what is right, in your sight,
so that I might be a blessing to you.
© 2006
Betty King - All Rights Reserved
Email
Betty at baking2@charter.net
Visit her
website at
www.bettyking.net
Betty King
is an author, freelance writer, a Life Style and Devotional
newspaper columnist and a frequent contributor to the
Chicken Soup for the Soul book series and other anthology
books and publications. Her new book the Fragrance of Life
has just been released; for information
about it check out her website or email
her. |
