How can we bless God? What does it mean to bless God?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Blessing God means honoring and praising Him with our whole being, not by giving Him anything, but by responding in worship, gratitude, and obedience to who He is. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word barak literally means to kneel, reflecting a posture of honor and reverence (Genesis 24:26–27; Psalm 103:1). This is what blessing God looks like, both literally and symbolically. The Psalms repeatedly call God’s people to bless Him with all their heart, soul, and strength (Psalm 104:1; Psalm 103:1–5; Psalm 134:1–2). Blessing God flows naturally from worshiping Him in our hearts, which translates into actions. Living lives that honor God make every aspect of our lives a reflection of His greatness and steadfast love, which blesses Him.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• To bless God simply means to praise Him or to honor His name. The Hebrew word translated "bless" in the Old Testament, בָּרַךְ (barak), literally means to kneel, indicating the idea of honoring the Lord (Genesis 24:26–27; Psalm 103:1). We do not add anything to Him when we bless Him, yet we worship Him as our appropriate response to His greatness and His steadfast love for us (Psalm 34:1; Psalm 145:1–3).
• In the Psalms, we often find verses that speak of blessing the Lord. For example, Psalm 104:1 reads, "Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty." Psalm 16:7 notes, "I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me."
• Psalm 103:1-5 includes the idea of complete worship of the Lord without holding back: "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."
• From the earliest biblical accounts, God called people to honor Him through acts of worship. The Law of Moses instructed people to worship and bless the Lord. The Psalms are filled with commands to bless the Lord: "Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD!" (Psalm 134:1-2). Psalm 135:19-20 adds, "O house of Israel, bless the LORD! O house of Aaron, bless the LORD! O house of Levi, bless the LORD! You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!"
• Some Psalms use the phrase "bless the Lord" alongside "praise the Lord" indicating that the meaning is similar between the two. For example, Psalm 104:35b reads, "Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!" Psalm 115:18 declares, "But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!"

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• When Jesus came, He instructed the people to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Colossians 3:16 teaches, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
• Ephesians 5:18b-20 instructs, "… be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Not surprisingly, the psalms in calling us to bless the Lord serve as the basis for many of today's popular worship songs and hymns. For example, "10,000 Reasons" by Matt Redman includes "Bless the Lord, O my soul" as the main line of its chorus. The classic chorus "Bless the Lord, O My Soul" builds upon the same idea.

So how do we bless God? We bless Him through heartfelt worship, doing everything to reflect and proclaim who He is and what He has done. We bless Him as we serve others with kindness, giving generously to those in need, speak words that encourage and honor Him, show patience and forgiveness, and live with integrity and obedience in our work, family, and community—letting every part of our daily life reflect His greatness and steadfast love.

UNDERSTAND

• Blessing God means honoring and praising Him with our whole being.
• Blessing God involves wholehearted devotion, expressing our love for Him both inwardly and outwardly.
• Blessing God reflects who He is and what He has done.

REFLECT

• How do you understand what it means to bless God?
• How do you intentionally seek to bless God in your life?
• In what ways can your actions—at work, home, or with others—reflect God’s greatness and love?

ENGAGE

• Why does God call us to bless Him?
• How can we bless God in both heart and action?
• How does blessing God with our lives serve as a powerful testimony for those who do not yet know or trust Him?