Faith in a Time of Pandemic – Blessing God

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Blessing God
(6/15)
I will bless God at all times. (Psalm 34:1; read Psalm 34:1-6)

What does it mean to “bless” God? We usually think of blessing others or asking for God’s blessing. But blessing God? Can our blessings contribute to God’s wellbeing? Can we add to God’s joy by our lives?

I think it means honoring or glorifying God. I think it means giving God praise. But what does it mean to praise God?

When I think of praising God, I believe it means to live a thankfully, seeking to be aware of God in every situation. The Psalmist proclaims, “Let everything that breathes praise God.” Every breath can be a prayer, an affirmation of life, an opportunity to connect with God and all creation.

To bless God is to be mindful of God’s presence in our daily encounters. It is to encounter the holy in every person and look for God’s presence in unexpected places. Mother Teresa, Saint Teresa, speaks of our calling as “doing something beautiful for God.” Perhaps blessing God means giving God a beautiful rather than ugly world. Perhaps it means choosing to be God’s companion in healing the world. We are God’s hands and feet, and God needs us to tip the balance from death to life and hate to love.

Let us praise God, doing something beautiful for God in every situation.
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Holy God, let me do something beautiful for you in every situation. Let me praise you by loving your creation and honoring all your creatures. Amen.

+++Bruce Epperly is a Cape Cod professor, pastor, and author of over 50 books including FAITH IN A TIME OF PANDEMIC, GOD ONLINE: A MYSTIC’S GUIDE TO THE INTERNET, and the upcoming HOPE BEYOND PANDEMIC.