Sermon Reflections from Bless God | Alex Hardt | August 30, 2026
The topic of Pastor Alex’s sermon this Sunday was Bless God. The only meaning for bless that works for us is praise or glorify. The other meanings- consecrate, invoke divine care, and confer prosperity or preserve all belong to God. We cannot do those things towards God, our only ability to bless is to praise or glorify Him! Have you asked yourself how often your praise God for who He is or what He has done? In reality it should be daily or even minute by minute. He alone sustains our being. The other thought is for what have you offered praise or thanks to God and given Him the glory? This too should be part of our everyday existence. Why is that?
Pastor Alex gave us several specific reasons from Zephaniah. We should glory in the Lord or Praise Him because He is the restorer of broken, hurting and ill hearts. He rejoices with us over our lives and the things we do for Him and through Him.
Here are some other ideas for praise from Psalms:
Psalm 41:13 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.” God is eternal and we can always count on Him unlike those things in life that are fleeting and temporal!
Psalm 18:46 “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!” Our praises to God include His stability, steadfastness and His sending our Savior, Jesus!
Psalm 56:4 “In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” God in worthy of all our trust and He is greater than anything or anyone we will ever face. No Fear with Jesus!
Psalm 66:20 “Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” We can be assured that God hears our prayers and will always love us.
Psalm 68:19 “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” God has made a way to save us through Jesus’ work on the cross, and He will walk with us each day helping us bear our burdens. That is worthy of all our praises!
There are many verses in the Bible that speak of praise as our attitude towards God should be one of praise and thanksgiving. Here are some verses that speak of thanksgiving towards God.
The blessing of giving thanks in prayer – Philippians 4:5-7 “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Our heart attitudes filled with thanksgiving open our hearts to be filled with Him.
The blessing of knowing Christ -1 Corinthians 15:56-57 “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” In Christ there is no death!
The blessing of relating to one another with thanks- Ephesians 5:19-20 “ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Also in
Psalm 41:13 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.” God is eternal and we can always count on Him unlike those things in life that are fleeting and temporal!
Psalm 18:46 “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!” Our praises to God include His stability, steadfastness and His sending our Savior, Jesus!
Psalm 56:4 “In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” God in worthy of all our trust and He is greater than anything or anyone we will ever face. No Fear with Jesus!
Psalm 66:20 “Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” We can be assured that God hears our prayers and will always love us.
Psalm 68:19 “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” God has made a way to save us through Jesus’ work on the cross, and He will walk with us each day helping us bear our burdens. That is worthy of all our praises!
There are many verses in the Bible that speak of praise as our attitude towards God should be one of praise and thanksgiving. Here are some verses that speak of thanksgiving towards God.
The blessing of giving thanks in prayer – Philippians 4:5-7 “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Our heart attitudes filled with thanksgiving open our hearts to be filled with Him.
The blessing of knowing Christ -1 Corinthians 15:56-57 “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” In Christ there is no death!
The blessing of relating to one another with thanks- Ephesians 5:19-20 “ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Also in
Colossians 3:16-17 “ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” How we relate to one another needs to include thanks and unity in Him.
And this blessing yet to come- we will give thanks before Him in heaven, Revelation 11:16-17 “ And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.” One day we will worship with Him and present our praises in person!
Which of these reasons to praise and thank God will you use this week? May they be many and fill your hearts with greater love for Him.
Blessings to you as your seek to worship and follow Him!
Linda
And this blessing yet to come- we will give thanks before Him in heaven, Revelation 11:16-17 “ And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.” One day we will worship with Him and present our praises in person!
Which of these reasons to praise and thank God will you use this week? May they be many and fill your hearts with greater love for Him.
Blessings to you as your seek to worship and follow Him!
Linda
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