One of my favorite new songs, “Bless God," is a bold declaration of determination to praise and thank God at all times. This includes when things are going well and when they’re not, when there’s plenty and when there is little, when the battle forms and the walls fall, when others are present and when I’m all alone. This decision is not based on my life circumstances but on the unchanging goodness of God and the reality that he is worthy of all praise.
He's worthy of whole life worship
From the first verses of Scripture, God declares his identity as the Creator God, speaking the whole world into existence and crafting humanity in his image to reflect his glory. Because he is the only True God, he is worthy of our whole-life worship. About this John writes, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Revelation 4:11). Here and throughout Scripture we’re exhorted to praise and bless the Lord at all times. Psalm 103 outlines some of the many reasons for praising him including his faithfulness to care for and heal us, his gift of redemption and forgiveness and his loving mercy and compassion for all he has made.
Because of his greatness and glory, we’re called to whole-life worship. This differs significantly from the way the Christian culture in America has redefined worship – which is primarily relegated to Sunday mornings. While whole-life worship includes gathering with believers to study the Word and praise his name, it expands to all of life. Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians 10:31 when he says that whether we eat or drink or whatever we do – we’re to do it for the glory of God. He goes on to show in Romans 6:13 and 12:1-2 that true worship involves our physical bodies. We’re called in these passages to present ourselves continually to God as living sacrifices, offering the very parts of our bodies to him as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13, 12:1-2). As one writer notes, we offer our hands, eyes, ears, hearts, minds and more to him, realizing that what we do with each part of our body is our worship.
He is faithful and will never fail or forsake us
God’s faithfulness can also be traced to the first pages of Scripture. He created Adam out of nothing and Eve from his rib, breathed breath into their lungs and then sustained them after the Fall. He lovingly covered their shame and nakedness and led them to safety so that they could flourish and take dominion over the earth.
He does the same for us and all his beloved children. At regeneration, he pours out his Spirit upon us, cleanses us from all sin and declares us righteous and holy in his sight (1 John 1:7; Colossians 1:22). He promises to be with us throughout all of life to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Though he assures us we will encounter suffering and trials, he simultaneously promises that he will strengthen us through hardships and will never fail or forsake us (Isaiah 41:10; Hebrews 13:5).
He is our shield and exceeding great reward
In speaking with Abram, God encouraged him not to fear and promised to be his shield (Genesis 15:1). His covenant with Abram and his descendants included God’s promise that he would guard him against his enemies and protect him from danger. Abraham was called simply to remain in God’s plan – listening to, trusting and following him where he was leading.
In a similar way we, as Abraham’s offspring, are given this promise. God says that he is our “sun and shield”, the one who keeps us from the fiery arrows of the enemy (Psalm 84:11; Isaiah 54:17). As we take shelter in Christ through faith, we are guarded from every evil attack and held on high, kept in safety (2 Timothy 4:18; Psalm 18:16-19).
He is our portion and our prize
The Psalmist declares “LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup” (Psalm 16:5). The prophet Habakkak echoes these words when he writes, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him” (Lamentations 3:24). The word portion here is translated inheritance in some versions, which further shows the depth of the meaning. These men were declaring that God was their ultimate treasure – that which gave them purpose, meaning and sustenance. They were not looking to personal strength, wisdom or riches or relying on their own ability to uphold themselves (Jeremiah 9:23, 17:5). Instead, they fully put their trust in God.
As God’s adopted children, he promises that we have an inheritance in his Kingdom, both now and for eternity, that is imperishable (Hebrews 9:15). Our present inheritance includes the riches of our union with Christ, which Paul outlines in Ephesians 1 saying we’ve been “blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:3). At the resurrection we will receive the fullness of this treasure as we’re brought into his presence and fully freed from all sin, suffering, sickness and death (Revelation 21:4).
He is our hope and our future
The prophet Jeremiah reminds the people of Israel that God had given them “hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). On a similar note, David exhorts Israel in Psalm 134:7 to “Put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.” This kind of hope is not like the hope of the world – which relies on non-substantial things, people and ideas to sustain them and give them life. Jesus warns that hoping in anything in the world is like building our house on sinking sand (Matthew 7:24-27). If, however, we put our hope in God and his promises, he assures us this hope will serve as the “anchor” for our soul. It will hold us fast to him until the end (Hebrews 6:19). Paul reminds us that the hope of God will not disappoint or put us to shame (Romans 5:5) but will instead enable us to patiently endure.
For these reasons and thousands more, we bless the Lord!
“I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the LORD” (Psalm 34:1-2).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK0fbhGdX4A
