“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us” (Eph. 1:3).
When we bless God, it is with words of praise; when He blesses us, it is with deeds of kindness.
Paul's brief doxology identifies God the Father as the ultimate recipient and source of blessing—the One to whom blessing is ascribed and the One who bestows blessings on those who love Him.
That should be the response of your heart just as it has been the response of believers throughout the ages. The psalmist said “Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer” (Ps. 66:20); and “blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders” (Ps. 72:18). Peter said, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet. 1:3).
When the situation is reversed and God blesses us, it isn't with praise, for apart from Him there is nothing praiseworthy about us. Instead, He gives us undeserved benefits through His many deeds of kindness. Scripture identifies Him as the source of every good thing (James 1:17), who works all things together for our good and His glory (Rom. 8:28).
That is but a sampling of the many blessings He lavishes on us in His Son, Christ Jesus. It's a marvelous cycle: God blesses us with deeds of kindness; we bless Him with words of praise.
Beware of the sin of thanklessness. Recognize God's blessings in your life and let them fill your heart and lips
Suggestions for Prayer
- Identify ten specific blessings that God has granted to you in recent days and praise Him for each one.
- Ask Him to make you more aware of and thankful for His goodness in your life.
- Always be ready to seek forgiveness when you take His blessings for granted.
For Further Study
Read Psalm 103.
- What blessings does David mention?
- How do they apply to your life?
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