1. “Bless the Lord o my soul, and all that is within me. Bless his Holy name.” Psalm 103:1.
Truly there is a great need to praise the Lord with all our innermost being for all His uncountable benefits towards us.
In deed we have all passed through a whole year and entered into a new year alive. It is also amazing that the Lord provided for us throughout last year. Thanking God and praising him with our whole heart gives us greater opportunity to receive more of his blessings. Ungrateful hearts do not always receive fully from the Lord because they have the hearts of ingrates.
Aside the numerous things God does for us everyday, let us look inwards to see two vital things God has done for us: “who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases”. Psalm 103:3. (i) He forgives us all our iniquities. (ii) He heals us all diseases.
This is magnanimous. To forgive us is magnanimous. It is only a magnanimous heart like that of God that can all our sins forgive.
2. But we must remember what God himself said about those who are willing to be forgiven: “If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” II Cor. 7:14.
Do you know that as large-hearted as God is to forgive all sin, there are uncountable number of people who refuse to forsake their wicked ways? How would such be forgiven? How can such become a true child of God to receive pardon? Except he turns away from his wicked ways.
In Nigeria, in Africa and in all the continents of the world there are traces of wickedness. Some even kill their fellow human beings and remove some parts of their body for rituals. Until repentance, there cannot be forgiveness.
So, throughout ages, the Lord is kindhearted to forgive sins: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9
3. Gods own kindheartedness to the sick is unfathomable. It is incomprehensible, quite beyond our understanding: “And his fame went throughout Syria, and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with diverse diseases and torments and those which were possessed with devils and those which were lunatic and those that had palsy, and he healed them.” Matt. 4:24.
The Lord is still healing all that are with diverse diseases today.
We ought always to praise the Lord for healing us from our diseases. Sometimes, through the treatment from hospitals God gives us healing and sometimes we receive divine healing in God’s mysterious ways. That is still on till today. Through prayers diseases are taken away from us. God did that certainly last year. He has already started doing that this year also. And he continues to do the same in them that believe.
4. We ought to praise and bless the Lord always for all his goodness towards us: “The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even forever more.” Ps. 121:8
It is not possible for us to recall how many places we travelled to last year nor count how many places our feet trod last year alone.
Yet the Lord’s eyes are always watching over us. He always preserves, protects us. Our souls ought always to praise the Lord.
Not many even know what the redemption of our souls mean. It is actually redemption from destruction. Few people know that on the last day, those that are redeemed would obtain a place in heaven where they would live eternally with Christ while those who are condemned would have their portion in the lake of fire.
So redemption from destruction is what God’s grace grants to all, white or black, rich or poor: whosoever comes to him in the name of his Son Jesus Christ shall be redeemed. See this:” Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jn14:6
Let us therefore put away all unrighteousness, come to Christ for pardon and salvation. For this Grace, we ought always to bless the Lord with all our souls and with everything that is within us.