A rather common word heard often in those moments of departure is "Have a blessed day!" The frequency of usage makes it into something that robs it of any meaning. Nonetheless, the idea of blessing is an intriguing one. To look up the word in the dictionary is to find a variety of meanings and interpretations. In the religious sense it generally refers to the favor and goodness of God. And while there is nothing wrong with such a definition, we find often used in the Psalms the phrase, "Bless the Lord, O my soul..." (Psalm 104:1) which seems to lend itself to a different understanding.
The Psalmist seems to be addressing the inner part of his life where the essence of his life lives. He does not offer the blessing as one who raises hands toward the heavens and speaks words of praise, but as one who seeks the Lord to be blessed by the soul within him. Perhaps, in this context a better definition of blessing is the response of gifting. For us to be blessed is to receive a gift from God so as blessings come from the soul, is it not also a way of offering gifts to God? As we are blessed by the unmerited gifts of God, so is God blessed by our giving good gifts to Him.
And how do we, in a practical way, speak of these gifts which our soul might give as an expression of our desire to bless God? Certainly, one of the more obvious is to give Him thanksgiving and praise. But, as we allow ourselves to probe deeper into our spiritual life, we begin to think of other gifts as well. The desire to love, the willingness to serve, the eagerness to sacrifice, the openness to death of self, and joyful giving are but a few of those soul gifts which surely bring pleasure to the heart of God when He receives them as gifts, or blessings, from us.
The Psalmist seems to be addressing the inner part of his life where the essence of his life lives. He does not offer the blessing as one who raises hands toward the heavens and speaks words of praise, but as one who seeks the Lord to be blessed by the soul within him. Perhaps, in this context a better definition of blessing is the response of gifting. For us to be blessed is to receive a gift from God so as blessings come from the soul, is it not also a way of offering gifts to God? As we are blessed by the unmerited gifts of God, so is God blessed by our giving good gifts to Him.
And how do we, in a practical way, speak of these gifts which our soul might give as an expression of our desire to bless God? Certainly, one of the more obvious is to give Him thanksgiving and praise. But, as we allow ourselves to probe deeper into our spiritual life, we begin to think of other gifts as well. The desire to love, the willingness to serve, the eagerness to sacrifice, the openness to death of self, and joyful giving are but a few of those soul gifts which surely bring pleasure to the heart of God when He receives them as gifts, or blessings, from us.
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