Worship, War, and Wisdom: Church Planting Lessons From DavidSample

I hear the soaring chorus from my childhood: “Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!” I wonder if David wrote it because he felt like blessing the Lord, or because his soul needed reminding that he should bless the Lord.

Maybe you woke up while it was still dark with a headache, stepped on a Lego, and did not throw open the windows to bless the name of the Lord. In those moments, we must remind ourselves why we bless His name! David went on to recount the many benefits of loving and serving God: forgiveness, healing, redemption, His loving kindness and tender mercies, being satisfied with good things so your strength is renewed.

This was part of the rhythm of David’s prayers. He poured out his lament, but then he recalled the good things about God. He would begin to list out the specific blessings in his life. He remembered the ways that God had shown himself in the nations. He recounted the character of his Maker, reminding his soul of a God who was love and justice.

Regularly reminding ourselves of the specific things God has done helps to reaffirm our trust in him. It gives birth to hope, and hope is belief in the future. It strengthens our resolve to bless His name, remembering that He has always been faithful, and he will be faithful again.

Looking back over your life, what have been the benefits of serving God? What miracles has he performed to bring you to where you are today? What has he done through the generations of your family? Go beyond the material blessings, and dig deep into recalling the spiritual life that He has borne in you.