Mensa Otabil - Bless the Lord, O my Soul (10/01/2025)
We are in the final week of the year 2020, and we want to thank God for this year and what it means and has meant to all of us. We want to bless the Lord with all our soul. From Psalm 103, verse 2: «Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.» All of us agree that this year has been extraordinary. In many ways, it has been disruptive, and many of us have had some negative experiences.
However, that is not all that has happened this year. In the midst of all the disruption and dislocation, and the disasters that have occurred—not only in our lives but in the lives of other people in other parts of the world—we must remember what the Lord has done for us. So we end the year with thanksgiving in our hearts to bless the Lord with all our soul and not forget His benefits. Many times, we focus on things that have gone wrong in our lives; we focus on what should have been, what wasn’t, what was working well and didn’t continue, and what we lost.
These are all things for us to think about, to sorrow over, and to mourn because loss is always painful. But there is also gain, and there are also benefits. The psalmist reminds us that while we bless the Lord, we must not forget His benefits. Why does the psalmist say that? Because it is very easy, in the midst of your pain, to forget the benefits of the Lord. A benefit is something that has been added to you, and so, in the midst of all that has been taken away, some things have been added to us.
You may ask, «Pastor, what do you think has been added? What is the good that 2020 has added to us?» Well, it has added days to us, weeks to us, months to us, and a year to us. Many of us have experienced things this year. Some people have gotten married, some have had children, some have found jobs, and others have received promotions. Things have been added; yes, things have been taken away. But we must never forget the benefits of the Lord—what He has added to us. For some of us, God has given us new friends, new relationships, and new families.
Sometimes we open our eyes and see new opportunities when one door closes, for God opens another door. So when we look back at all that has happened, we must appreciate the benefits of the Lord. 2020 had its moments, but it also had its opportunities. Just consider that if God could keep us through this year—of all years, the most disastrous for many—He has kept us, and you are here. God has kept you; it is a benefit of the Lord, and we should not forget it. As we end the year 2020, I want a spirit of thankfulness and gratitude to well up in your heart. Even if it is difficult for you to be thankful, if it is difficult for you to praise God, just say, «Lord, I thank You; I bless You, and I do not take all that You’ve done for granted.»
Even if you are saying it with tears in your eyes, just remember to bless the Lord with your soul because, as we do that, we allow our hearts to heal and our faith to soar high. So bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits of 2020. Let’s share a word of prayer together. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, thank You for the year 2020. I appreciate the life, the health, and the opportunities You have given me. In Jesus' name, Amen and amen.» God is good, and He is good all the time. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom! Peace and life to you.