“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,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:1-14
“Jesus answered, ‘The most important is,.. you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.’” Mark 12:29-31
“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
The benefits from knowing and loving God are vast and innumerable, and reciting them lifts our souls to bless the Lord and Giver. They flow from who He is in His very nature, from His vast heart of love. Every blessing comes in lavish measure for as high as the heavens are above, so great is His love toward us. Do we grasp the greatness and greatestness of God’s love? (Ephesians 1:3; 3:18-19)
“What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!” ~Anonymous, American Folk Hymn (1835)
When we grasp His wondrous love, what impact does it make on our affections and our actions toward others? How does it affect or reorient our mindset each day, our outlook on the world? Do we not desire a mind so full of such love that we can think only the best of another, and always have the appropriate word of truth, encouragement, consolation, and hope to offer? Would we not also want a heart so full of love we can not help but feel compassion, comfort the sorrowing, and serve the needy?
What can I learn of Christ’s love from the cross? How will I endeavor to know better the facets and measure of how it translates to and through me? How can I practice it afresh in my home, workplace, church, and community? (Ephesians 3:14-19)
Lord, may I never forget and ever bless You for the benefits and blessings of Your love. Fill me with that love to overflow so that You are known and adored.
As the rain and snow 