FAITH CAPSULE:The understanding behind praising God provokes God’s hand to favor.

Psalm 103

In every area of worshiping God understanding is the key to moving the hand of God for blessing. The Bible states, “…sing praises with understanding.” (Psalm 47:7) Evidently, if worshiping God in praise worship requires understanding every other area of worshiping God also requires understanding. Knowledge, the evidence of understanding is the application of wisdom. Obviously, what ever we do with godly wisdom results to having a knowing edge over confronting issue. Praising the name of God with understanding is same as blessing the name of God with understanding. The Psalmist says, “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.” (Psalm 103:1-2) The Psalmist was blessing (praising) the name of God with understanding for God’s benefits. The understanding behind praising God is what energizes the psalmist and it is what provokes the hand of God to bless. In blessing the name of God for His benefits, the psalmist pointed out the benefits of God that were the driving force for his blessing of God’s name. The psalmist went further to encourage us not to forget the benefits of God.
The Psalmist states the benefits of God: “Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”(Psalm 103:3-5)
Unmistakably, all that keeps us living from time to time through the year is not our strength, not our determination and neither is it our merit but mercy of God. Clearly, the daily benefits of God is all that keeps us going and it demands for our praising Him to be rooted in understanding of His daily benefits. King David testifies in his statement, “Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!” (Psalm 68:19) “What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me?” (Psalm 116:12) 
Remember and meditate the daily benefits of God as listed above: God forgives, God heals, and God redeems us, God crowns and satisfies us. For all His daily benefits, He is worthy of our profound praise worship that is rooted in understanding. With your understanding in praising Him, provoke the move of His hand to favor you.
Prayer for today: In your prayer, memorize and meditate on the word of the psalmist that states, “Remember me, O LORD, with the favor You have toward Your people. Oh, visit me with Your salvation, that I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, that I may glory with Your inheritance.(Psalm 106:4-5)