Word for the day: "Bless the Lord Oh My Soul"

Psalms 103: 1-6 (KJV) Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. ²Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: ³Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; ⁴Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; ⁵Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. ⁶The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.As this Friday ends the work week for many of us, I felt compelled to share my heart with you. My cousin Lynice Williams has been transitioned and transported from this life to Glory this week by God and my Grandmother Dr. Inez Girtman lays in a nursing home in a day to day condition. Even as the hearts of my family ache with these occurrences of our precious cousin and the state of our beloved Matriarch “Grandma”. I know we still have the confidence in God, and it is our deepest desire that His will be done in our lives. Sisters and brothers reading today’s word message, one of the most important imperatives that will make it possible for us to walk in kingdom living and times such as this; is our expression of praise to the Lord. Praise is the will of God, and heaven overflows with it even at this moment.Since the presence of praise is voiced continually in heaven, our voices should also be lifted up in praise to our Lord. In today’s text we are told to declare to yourself and to all those in your sphere of influence, "Bless the Lord Oh my Soul” and in my humble opinion; this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. David is saying, "Soul, you are going to bless the Lord regardless of whether you feel like it or not." If we would begin our praises in the natural, they would soon end up in the Spirit, even as David said and all that was within him would bless the Lord. What kind of benefits do we receive from the Lord? He forgives our sins, heals all our diseases, shows us His love and kindness, He is merciful toward us, gives us good things in His provision for us, restores our youth and strength, delivers us from oppression all around us, and judges us righteously. We have so much to praise God about because He is a wonderful and loving God!Feelings fall into the emotional and soul realm (our will, emotions, and memory) of our being. If we wait until we feel like praising God, we may never do it. Our spirits desire to praise God because of His nature in us. However, the soul part of us resists that desire, until our carnal minds have been completely renewed in this area. That is why it is important to go ahead and praise God to a point beyond our soul feelings until we press on into the Spirit realm. We will then sense a real joy, and praise will come forth. Psalm 103 is a wonderful praise psalm, especially in times of pain, powerlessness, and problems.Praise is a wonderful method we can use to bring healing and deliverance to our souls and bodies! Many people are depressed today; one of the quickest ways to receive deliverance from depression is to praise God. We must make our souls bless the Lord when we are not feeling well. It will bring liberation and healing. This does not mean that we are to thank God for bad things and tragedies that come our way. It means that we are to remain joyful no matter what is happening in our lives because we have the Lord, and in Him we shall overcome no matter what the enemy of soul is trying to do to us. We are to bless God at all times, not just when things go smoothly. We are to bless Him when things go wrong, too; we are to bless the Lord even when all looks bleak.  In essence we are simply expressing to God: “I love You, Lord”, no matter what happens in my life, and knowing it’s not easy to cultivate. When we keep this attitude of praise in the midst of our trials, we come through victoriously. Have a “Bless the Lord Oh my soul” weekend!Elder Baker