Benefits – Praying Pint

30.t. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Psalms 37:26   He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.

Psalms 112:4 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;

Proverbs 11:17    A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.

Proverbs 14:21    Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

Proverbs 19:17   Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.

Daniel 4:27    Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Micah 6:8   He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Colossians 3:12     Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

James 3:17     But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Hebrews 4:16     Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

When this beatitude addresses those who will show mercy, it speaks to those who have already received mercy. It is mercy to be emptied of your pride and brought to poverty of spirit. It is mercy to be brought to mourning over your spiritual condition. It is mercy to receive the grace of meekness and to become gentle. It is mercy to be made hungry and thirsty after righteousness. Therefore, this one who is expected to show mercy is one who has already received it. The merciful one will show it to those who are weaker and poorer. The merciful one will always look for those who weep and mourn. The merciful one will be forgiving to others, and always looking to restore broken relationships. The merciful one will be merciful to the character of other people, and choose to think the best of them whenever possible. The merciful one will not expect too much from others. The merciful one will be compassionate to those who are outwardly sinful. The merciful one will have a care for the souls of all men. If you want mercy from others – especially God – then you should take care to be merciful to others.

To be merciful is a choice. We have a choice on how we act towards and treat others. What is bouncing around in your head when given an opportunity to show mercy. I was right and have been wronged. I was cheated. I was not chosen. I was cursed at. I was not listened to. I was not invited. I was not asked. You are wrong. You are lazy. It is your own fault. You have two legs and two arms – use them. You choose to live like this. The list of things we allow to bounce around in our head when we are in a situation that should or could allow us to show mercy could go on and on. The fact is that we don’t spend a single day whereby we could show mercy to someone. Why should we, because God showed mercy and grace on us while we were still sinners. He sent His Son to die for our sins so that we would have eternal life. We did nothing deserving this grace and mercy. It was out of the love of God who reached out to a lost and fallen world. Rejecting to show mercy when opportunities arise says a lot about the condition of the heart of the soul. To recognize and understand that you were given mercy when you deserved none opens up our heart and mind to choose to show mercy in the like matter. Why? Because Jesus Christ is honored and glorified. There is no other reason. When our heart, mind, and soul desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ we will continue to find opportunities to show grace, mercy, and love.

What is in your heart

“What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?”

“remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

Psalms 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

Psalms 105:5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,

Psalms 106:7 Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.

Psalms 106:21 They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt,

Deuteronomy 8:2-4 And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years.

Deuteronomy 8:10-14 And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. “Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,

Deuteronomy 32:6 Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?

2 Chronicles 32:25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem.

Isaiah 63:7 I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

Jeremiah 2:31-32 And you, O generation, behold the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say, ‘We are free, we will come no more to you’? Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

Luke 17:15-18 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

David said, “remember” and “forget not, the benefits and mighty works of God” .

Moses said, “take care lest you forget”, and “is this how you repay the Lord for all of His benefits?” ” “Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God,”

Once again it is recorded another way in Jeremiah, “Yet my people have forgotten me days without number”

We all need reminders. Remember to humbly serve, praise, honor, follow, and obey God. Do not forget His grace and mercy in your time of plenty. Do not forget His gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Do not forget to seek and desire His whispers of guidance into your heart and soul. Do not lean on your own understanding. Open the door to your heart and soul wide open to His plans and purpose for your life. Yes we all need reminders of encouragement to the steadfast awesome power, might, and love of God.

All that is within me

“ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Psalms 103:1-5 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.

Psalms 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty,

Psalms 146:1-2 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Psalms 57:7-11 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!

Psalms 86:12-13 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

Note these comments on this Psalm from Charles Spurgeon:

“We should attribute it to his later years when he had a higher sense of the preciousness of pardon, because a keener sense of sin, than in his younger days. His clear sense of the frailty of life indicates his weaker years, as also does the very fulness of his praiseful gratitude.” David understood that true worship was something deeply inward, of the soul. It is not just about outward forms or expressions, but also about something real from the soul. “Only a holy man can delight in holy things. Holiness is the terror of unholy men; they love sin and count it liberty, but holiness is to them a slavery.” “David selects a few of the choicest pearls from the casket of divine love, threads them on the string of memory, and hangs them about the neck of gratitude.”

Good news, happiness, salvation

“ My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.”

Psalms 96:2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.

Psalms 72:17-18 May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.

Psalms 103:1-2 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,

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Revelation 5:13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Psalms 103:20-22 Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Psalms 145:1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.

1 Chronicles 29:20 Then David said to all the assembly, “Bless the LORD your God.” And all the assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and paid homage to the LORD and to the king.

Isaiah 52:7-8 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion.

Romans 10:14-18 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

Great verses today extolling us to worship and give honor to God through Jesus Christ. When we think about creation and the magnitude of everything on earth and in space our mind can not comprehend the awesomeness of God, who spoke all of this into being. Think about this, at His word earth and everything on and in it was formed. At His word space and galaxies were formed. Laws of physics we are still trying to figure out He spoke into existence. Angels in heaven worship Him.

When it comes to blessing and worshipping God, we can do this in heart mind and soul. He is ever in our thoughts and actions. We purpose to live according to our increasing knowledge and understanding of Him through His word. Humbly we serve, honor, follow and obey. As well let us not lose sight of “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” and “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation” Speaking of His might, power, strength, love, salvation, holiness, steadfastness with awe and reverence is something I think pours out of a repentant, thankful, and humble follower.

I will glorify You forever and ever

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

“I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

Psalms 86:12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

Psalms 103:1 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,

Psalms 104:33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

Psalms 145:1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

1 Chronicles 29:13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

1 Corinthians 6:20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Revelation 19:5 And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.” Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.

Sometimes we get side tracked and don’t remember the blessings we have been given and are living with. When we forget there is no doubt that being thankful, grateful, singing praise, shouting for joy, commending His might acts of grace, mercy and love, are also left behind. Look at David and his comments stating that “I will give thanks”, “I will bless you name”, “I will sing praise”, “Bless the Lord O my soul”, and then again where multitudes of angels, creatures, elders saying “worthy is the Lamb”. We were bought with a great price for a single purpose, to bring us into fellowship with God where we would humbly serve, honor, glorify, follow and obey Him. We would praise Him and with thankful hearts glorify Him with all we think, say and do. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me. Blessed the Lord.

Troubled Heart

“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.”

Psalms 30:2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

Psalms 6:2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.

Psalms 51:8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

Psalms 103:2 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.

Psalms 118:18 The LORD has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.

Psalms 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Exodus 15:26 saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer.”

2 Kings 20:5 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD,

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord

Throughout our life we will encounter many different trials and go through many uncomfortable circumstances. Think back and look at your life. I read something once that said look at all of those “Worst Days of your Life” and know that you have survived them all!!! Do we think for a minute that God was not in control or have our best interest in mind for His honor and glory? We are human and like David, while in these times of troubles we have questions, concerns, worries, anxious thoughts, doubts, and sleepless nights. David cried out to God with all of these and after doing so he came to a place of proclaiming God’s promises. Whatever you are going through God is much bigger than it. He is more powerful that it. He is able to do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine. So how do we find peace in and through these times? Trust in, cling to, rely on, and wait for God. He has given us great and precious promises so that by them our faith and hope maybe found complete trusting in His sovereignty, power, strength and steadfast love.

Fruit of your lips

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself”

“the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise”

Psalms 9:1
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Psalms 86:12
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

Psalms 34:1
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalms 103:1
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,

Psalms 145:1
I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

Psalms 146:1
Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

1 Chronicles 29:10
Therefore David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

Hebrews 13:15
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Luke 10:27
And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Isaiah 43:21
the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.

Do you remember the last time you “Praised God” for who He is, what He has done, His steadfast love, His power and might, His creation, etc…? I fear that we are to often seeking something from Him and to rarely praising Him. There is a song form Lauren Daigle:

Before I bring my need
I will bring my heart
Before I lift my cares
I will lift my arms

Before I speak a word
Let me hear Your voice
And in the midst of pain
Let me feel Your joy
Ooh, I wanna know You

You are my treasure and my reward
Let nothing ever come before
You are my treasure and my reward
Let nothing ever come before
I seek You

Remember in loving your God with all your heart, mind and soul we should be having praise flow out of us like a mighty river. Place praise for Him first in your heart and mind.