10,000 Blessings

The other day I heard an unfamiliar, but wonderful song, entitled "10,000 Blessings (Bless the Lord)" by Matt Redman. What a reminder that we have limitless reasons to bless and praise our extravagantly good and great Lord, even in the midst of hardships or challenges. We can't wait till we feel like it or enjoy ideal health or favorable circumstances. Rather, we choose, right where we are, despite whatever we might be facing, to bless and worship a God whose grace and mercy and power and love are vaster and wider and greater and deeper than we could ever begin to imagine or hope.

And we choose to thank Him for that which He has bestowed--innumerable blessings upon blessings--and that which He has withheld--destruction, despair, deserved eternal isolation and death. If the sun has come up and finds you again breathing and thinking, thank Him. If your eyes can read these words and your tongue can still taste the pumpkins and apples of autumn abundance, thank Him. If your ears can hear the sound of your loved one's voice or the strains of a symphony, O will you thank Him. If you can laugh with a friend or hug a child or walk over a path of yellowed fall leaves that decorate the landscape with sublime beauty, thank Him. If you can swallow, or cry, or touch, or chew, or sing, or pat your dog, or call your sister, or remember with joy your parents, or raise your hands in praise, O will you thank Him who is the Giver of all good and simple and everyday and, yet so great and profound, things.

The words to 10,000 Reasons:

The sun comes up. It's a new day dawning

It's time to sing your song again

Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me

Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger

Your name is great, and Your heart is kind

For all Your goodness I will keep on singing

10,000 reasons for my heart to find

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is falling

The end draws near and my time has come

Still my soul will sing Your praise unending

10,000 years and then forevermore

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name

Lord, I'll worship Your holy name

Right now, Lord, I worship Your holy, glorious, omnipotent Name that is above all names. My back might be aching and my steps might be slowing, but my soul is rejoicing and thanking You for who You are and all You have done! You are the Creator and the Sustainer of 10,000 upon 10,000 upon 10,000 of the blessings in each of our lives. How many do we miss everyday in our busyness and preoccupation? Yet, despite our ingratitude, You faithfully continue to shower those gifts upon us, upon our world, every single day. So thank You, thank You, thank You Lord! As the sun rises, might we trust You and say "yes" to whatever You choose to bring into our lives this new day. And with the setting of the sun, might we thank You and bless You for the strength to endure and the heart to rejoice. To You, the One who is worthy of all our praise and adoration, be the glory forever and ever and ever.