The Overwhelming Importance of Christians Truly Reverencing God and Offering Him Much Heartfelt Praise!

08 Feb 2026 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 103:1.          ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.’ 

Oh my fellow believers, it’s another cold Sunday in the northern climes, but what else is new eh?  (smile) And all we are expected to do is to gather in a sanctuary on this the Lord’s Day and fellowship with other believers, giving praise and thanks to our wonderful God, while receiving His awesome strength and grace to go out and face another week of work in this evil and ungodly world. 

And today, as always, (smile) we have a wonderful song of worship to offer up to our most worthy heavenly Father. It’s a fairly new one, written by Matt Redman and Steve Angrisano in 2013, most appropriately titled ‘Ten Thousand Reasons – Bless the Lord Oh My Soul.’ And do we ever have more than ten thousand reasons to bless the Lord! That’s for certain sure! So, without further ado, let’s offer up our sweet sacrifices of praise in a mid-tempo, soulful, scintillating version of the song, letting the whole world know that it’s coming sincerely from our hearts. 

Opening with the chorus, we sing: ‘(Chorus) Bless the Lord oh my soul Oh my soul Worship His Holy Name Sing like never before Oh my soul, I’ll worship Your Holy Name). The sun comes up It’s a new day dawning It’s time to sing Your song again Whatever may pass And whatever lies before me Let me be singing When the evening comes (Chorus) Bless the Lord oh my soul……I’ll worship your holy name) You’re rich in love And You’re slow to anger Your name is great And Your heart is kind For all Your goodness I will keep on singing Ten thousand reasons For my heart to find. 

(Chorus: Bless the Lord oh my soul…I’ll worship your holy name) And on that day When my strength is failing The end draws near And my time has come Still my soul will sing your praise unending Ten thousand years and then forevermore… forevermore. (Chorus: Bless the Lord oh my soul Oh my soul Worship His Holy Name Sing like never before Oh my soul, I’ll worship Your Holy name. Bless the Lord oh my soul Oh my soul Worship His Holy Name Sing like never before Oh my soul, Jesus, I’ll worship Your Holy name, worship your holy name…yes, like never before…I’ll worship Your Holy name…’ 

Ah mih bredrin, that was indeed a beautiful rendition, and all who heard it know that we sincerely meant it, because there are innumerable reasons for which to thank Almighty God! And the greatest of which is obviously the sending of Jesus to redeem our sinful souls. And where in the Bible do we find those words? As for so many other things, we find them in the psalms, specifically Psalms 103 and 104.  

And what do the words ‘Bless the Lord Oh my soul mean?’ It’s basically means to give not just the words of our mouth, but our very lives – our very souls – back to Him in praise, adoration, and worship. And Bruh David uses it very powerfully in Psalm 103, titled ‘Bless the Lord’s Holy Character,’ when he unequivocably declares: ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.’ (Ps. 103:1) 

Yes friends, God alone is worthy of such praise. And according to this commentary from Dawn Hill, “For David to say, “Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name,” is to praise God completely and with the whole heart. This is not only an emotive expression outwardly nor is this merely an emotionally charged experience, but this includes praising God inwardly.” Now that makes complete sense, for we know that the Lord doesn’t merely accept the words of our mouths, or our outward actions, but searches the motives of our hearts before accepting our praise and thanks. 

As we recently saw Him tell Samuel when he went to anoint the second king of Israel amongst Jesse’s sons, and Samuel fell for the good looks and physical appeal of the first son Eliab. ‘But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused (rejected) him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.’ (1 Sam. 16:7) 

And that ought to be a timely reminder for all of us, as we offer up praise and thanks to Almighty God. (smile) Meanwhile, Psalm 104, titled ‘God’s Marvellous Creation,’ gives God praise from a different perspective. It opens thus: ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.’ (Ps. 104:1) And the psalmist goes on to list God’s wonderful creations, which are important, but in Psalm 103 however, Bruh David was more down to earth, instead remembering what God does for mankind. 

He continues: ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with LOVING-KINDNESS and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s… The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous (abounding) in mercy (LOVING-KINDNESS). He will not always chide (strive): neither will he keep his anger for ever. 

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy (LOVING-KINDNESS) toward them that fear (reverence) him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear (reverence) him. For he knoweth our frame (understands our constitution); he remembereth that we are dust.’ (Ps. 103: 2-5; 8-14) 

And friends, if reading all of that, you cannot find many reasons to thank and praise, to bless the Lord, then I don’t know what to say, but get back to the drawing board and learn the numerous blessings that we have to be thankful for from our Creator, Jehovah God! Much LOVE!

…only a fool or madman…refuses to acknowledge and accept…the many blessings of God… 

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

A Testimony to the Overwhelming Importance of Jesus in the Life of a Christian!

19 Oct 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 103:2.        Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! A good day to be alive my fellow believers! Yes, since all roads lead to God’s house, where, along with praise and thanksgiving, we can lay our problems down before Him and receive His awesome blessing on this Sabbath day. And the good thing is that no other faith but Christianity offers that kind of renewal! So why aren’t we a happier bunch of people eh? Why are there so many grumpy and miserable believers, when Christ came to save us, that we could have life, and have it more abundantly? 

Who knows? And with all we have going for us, we ought to be the happiest group of people in the world. However, that’s a question for another day, (smile) and today we have a beautiful song of worship that says how wonderful we feel about Jesus, and how everlastingly grateful we are to Him. The song ‘s titled, ‘How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds.’ And is that ever the gospel truth to His followers. 

And it’s certainly interesting and amazing how the author of this song, John Newton (1725-1807), who, though born into a Christian home became a licentious, abominable sailor, and eventually a slave trader, could write such beautiful Christian hymns, over two hundred, including that wonderful, popular Christian anthem, ‘Amazing Grace.’ But that just goes to show how the Lord down through History has used some of the most disgusting and unchristian men to do great things in His name. 

Just think of Bruh Paul, who was a persecutor of Christians until the Lord called him to ministry, and he became one of the most loyal and zealous disciples despite all the hardships he faced. Anyway, in the same amazing kind of conversion, John Newton turned to Christ, became an abolitionist and eventually a Christian Minister. Enough talk though, (smile) it’s time to offer up our sweet sacrifices of praise, in a soulful, scintillating, midtempo version of the song, letting the whole world know, in no uncertain terms, how truly sweet the name of Jesus is to us! 

Singing: ‘How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear! It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds, and drives away our fear. It makes the wounded spirit whole and calms the troubled breast; ’tis manna to the hungry soul, and to the weary, rest. Dear name! the rock on which I build, My shield and hiding place, My never-failing treasury, filled, With boundless stores of grace. 

O Jesus, shepherd, guardian, friend, my Prophet, Priest, and King, my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring. How weak the effort of my heart, how cold my warmest thought; but when I see you as you are, I’ll praise you as I ought. Till then I would your LOVE proclaim with every fleeting breath; and may the music of your name refresh my soul in death.’ 

Oh, what beautiful sentiments my people! And did we ever do justice to the song, so much so, that we had the whole of heaven singing along with us, because it’s not only here on earth that Jesus’ name resonates sweetly, but also in heaven too. And friends, the song is so chocked full of references to scriptures that I don’t know where to begin. So why don’t we begin like the song and talk about Jesus healing our wounds and restoring our wounded spirits. 

And there’s no scripture that says it as comprehensively as Psalm 103. ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with LOVING-KINDNESS and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.’ (Ps. 103:2-5) 

And then we have this most essential scripture, where Isaiah describes Jesus’ suffering on our behalf: ‘Surely he hath borne our griefs (sickness), and carried our sorrows (pains): yet we did esteem (reckon) him stricken, smitten of (struck down by) God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised (pierced through) for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes (wounds) we are healed.’ (Is. 53:4-5) 

Oh my people, we couldn’t ask for more than that from Christ! He took all the punishment for our sins. Meanwhile, we also have Jesus calling us in the Great Invitation to ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:28-30) Now where else we can receive such a marvellous invitation eh? Nowhere else but from Jesus! 

And when talking about the Lord being our strength etc. nobody says it better than Bruh David in Psalm 27. ‘I will LOVE thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler (shield), and the horn (strength) of my salvation, and my high tower (stronghold). I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.’ (Ps. 18: 1-4) What a powerful testimony to God’s strength and protection my brethren! 

However, with time and space running out on us, I want to get in some of Jesus’ famous I Am’s, which cover so much of all He said and did. Like this one. ‘I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.’ (John 6:35) Then there’s this: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ (John 14:6) Now listen to this one: ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) 

And what about this gem? ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.’ (John 10:11) And we’ll close with this other gem, where Jesus said to Martha, Lazarus’ sister. ‘I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead (may die), yet shall he live.’ (John 11:25) 

There you have it friends, so many reasons why we ought to be grateful to Jesus and just burst out with joy when we hear His name. For He is indeed our Be All and End All! Let’s remember that! Much LOVE!

…Jesus is the embodiment…of ALL that human beings need… 

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien