I AM A FRIEND OF GOD

Psalm 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. 

As I (Mia) read this passage I am reminded of a term many people use, a term that really does not have the best connotation.... Friends with Benefits (FWB). But, if God in John 15, says that we are friends, then I would like to submit that we are indeed FWB. 

John 15:15 

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends.

So, my thoughts on FWB? I think it's wonderful!!! Wonderful, that is, when that friend is the God of Jacob, the God who sent His son Jesus to die for our sins and to bear the wrath of all mankind. Yep, I'm all for it!

You may have heard people say "But, it's not about what God can do for you."......... but isn't that the heart of it. It is about what God can do for you and me. He can save us because we can't do it ourselves. Call me selfish, but I think it's all about what God can do for us. And with that, there are some definite benefits to being a follower of Christ, His son......No Hell! No eternal separation for all of eternity!..... "Forget not all His benefits!" Pretty sweet!

Ok, so if only it ended there.......

There is this little thing (HUGE THING) in  Luke 9:23 about daily taking up our cross daily and dying to self.

Luke 9:23

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."

The Word of God teaches us about loving God, loving others, trusting in the midst of pain, doubt and fear, professing His name even when faced with death. 

For me, remembering His benefits turns my heart continually toward him SO THAT I can love Him because He first loved me, SO THAT I can love and forgive others, SO THAT I can trust Him even when I can't fathom a way out, in or through. Remembering His benefits, singing His songs satisfies me so that I am renewed like the eagles and I can soar. I can run the race marked out for me for the glory of my Lord and Savior! 

Today, take time to remember (and tomorrow and the day after that..and everyday.) Remember all that He has done in your life and all that He is willing to do. There is a song by Matt Redman called 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord). How about today we start with finding and remembering just one reason for our hearts to keep singing "Bless The Lord". Let's create a habit of praise, a habit of blessing, a habit of being thankful and blessing His holy name.