Peniel Pentecostal Holiness Church

3239 Rosebud Road Walnut Cove NC 27052
Pastor: Dr. Tim Nelson -  Church Office 336-591-36112
A Place To Encounter God Face To Face. Gen. 32:3

A Word From The Pastor Archives 2021
September 2021
 

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."  Psalm 103:1-2

David opens this psalm with three simple, yet profound words; "Bless the Lord."  To bless is to desire the very best for someone or to declare that the person blessed is already occupying the state of blessedness.  But what can man give to God that might bless God?  What  blessing can we give God?  The best we can do is to declare God's state of blessedness.  We exalt in God's perfections and use the most positive words we can find to indicate our delight in God.

Let us learn from the psalmist as he directs his soul to sound forth notes of heartfelt praise to this all blessed God.  David nurtures feelings of praise to God from within his own soul.  He calls every part of his inner being to the task when he says, "Let all that is within me bless His holy name."

What encourages the mind to initiate this kind of praise?   It is a remembrance of all the mercies, gifts and benefits God has bestowed upon us.  As we begin to list all that God has done for us, this realization presses us to reciprocate with our own blessings for Him as we remember God's merciful forgiveness, His healing, His redemption, His loving kindness and tender mercies.  God is good, let us bless the Lord for His goodness which we do not deserve.

Adapted From:
https://www.generations.org/devotionals/116.htm

"O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me."  Psalm 139:1

This is a personal prayer and song of praise to God.  Though Author and Creator of the entire universe and each of us, God is personally in touch with every single one of our lives.  He cares deeply and compassionately for us, not only as a whole but individually.  This psalm is a magnificent exposition of the greatness and goodness of God, as it focuses on His relationship with an individual.

Because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead, we are able to come freely to God through Christ.  In prayer, praise and everyday life, He is our constant companion.  Jesus calls us friends.  What a God we serve!  A God who saves!  A good God who knows us, loves us and will never leave us alone.  Thankfully captured by His grace.

Adapted From:
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/lessons-from-psalm-139.html

"The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy"  Psalm 145:8

Many of us, when we were children were taught a simple prayer that we would pray before we would eat.  A portion of that prayer is: "God is great, God is good.  Let us thank Him for our food."  Many families prayed that at each meal, over and over again.  We were being taught through this prayer to be thankful, but surely we, our siblings and our parents never fully comprehended the full meaning of those first two phrases:  "God is great, God is good."

The scriptures remind us over and over again of the goodness and the greatness of God.  And in Psalm 145 we hear the psalmist declare:  "The Lord is good to all."  The reality is that every human being experiences the goodness and the greatness of God.  This may seem unfair to some, but the truth is that all human beings are undeserving of God's goodness, that is what makes it So good.  In Psalm 37:3-4, the psalmist admonishes his reader to "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness, Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you desires of your heart." 

David calls his readers to "Feed on Yahweh's faithfulness."  Have you been feeding on His faithfulness, His goodness and His greatness?  The Lord is good!  He is good to all.  He is good to you, and He is good to me, therefore let us praise Him who is GOOD.

Adapted From:
https://www.ccesonline.com/dev/good.htm