Passage of the Day:
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 6 The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: 8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities, Psalm 103:1-10.
Reflection:
Blessings are God’s intention and desire to bless humanity. Blessings are a central focus of God’s covenant relationships beginning back in the Old Testament with Abram. When individuals like Enoch, Noah and Joseph habitually walked with God, their lives were filled with blessings. Blessings are part of God’s sowing and reaping principle. The blessing of your soul is dependent upon your obedience to God’s commands, decrees and precepts. As Moses shares in his farewell address to Israel, the choice of life or death is in the decisions that you make in life, Deuteronomy 30:15-16.
Prayerful Action:
Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord,” Joshua 24:14-15.
Refreshing Your Soul:
Psalm 103:10 and Romans 5:8 both highlight God’s unconditional love, treating us not as our sins deserve. The gift of God is eternal life, Romans 6:23. As human beings make the decision to publicly confess their need for a Savior, Romans 10:9-11, the salvation of your soul has guaranteed a place in heaven, 1 John 5:13. Yet, it’s when new converts begin to draw close to the Lord when the blessing of your soul can be experienced and sensed daily. May today’s post inspire you to choose life, John 10:10.
Song of the Day:
Don’t wait for Thanksgiving every year to recognize God’s blessings in disguise. May the attached song open your eyes, heart and mind to the numerous blessings you often fail to see.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 