It is probably one of the most well-known phrases in Christian worship. “Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.”
But few of us ever contemplate the meaning and significance of this familiar refrain. Let’s face it. In the mysterious world of faith, we all struggle to grasp the rights, wrongs, and consequences of our acts. To further complicate our understanding, we are subject to a lifelong stream of superstitions and misdirection.
As social media channels grow and multiply, we see postings that suggest that we engage in some ritualistic activity that will ensure our good fortune if we “spread the word” or act in a timely manner to participate in some action.
No doubt, these appeals tempt those of us striving to find the right lottery numbers or escape from the stress of an emotional or legal predicament. But, before we resort to superstitious practices we might be better served to apply a bit of logic to our situation and our relationship with God.
For instance, “Why should we praise God?” Does He need our adulation to fuel His power? Do we do this to curry favor? Do we expect to be rewarded in proportion to the intensity of our praise? Do we harbor some secret goal that we can only achieve with God’s powerful intervention?
Perhaps we are all guilty of such thoughts and intentions. Who among us would deny that we periodically engage in the wishful-thinking practice of linking our relationship to God with our earthly hope and goals?
If we truly want to strengthen our relationship with God, maybe we need to develop a new understanding.
Praise God. What exactly does that mean? We might better understand that concept if we start with the second phrase of that hymn – “From Whom All Blessing Flow.”
It might be difficult to identify with “all blessings” when we are struggling to pay our bills or dealing with illness. And that is the key to understanding the concept of praising God. It is in recognizing that the “blessings” in our life are, in fact, the foundational elements of our existence. The blessings we all enjoy are the air that we breathe, the perfect rotational speed of our planet, the season changes, the growth of plants that feed us, and the immeasurable number of perfect functions of our earth that allow us to exist.
Once we understand the reality of our blessings, it becomes easier to grasp the concept of “praising” God.
Praising God can be difficult for a human being because we are so firmly locked into the pride of our own identity. Praising becomes something we resist because it acknowledges the existence of an entity that is superior to ourselves.
Once we recognize the reality of our blessings, we can understand praising God is embracing an appreciation for all we already have, regardless of the lottery numbers.
Now, it all makes sense.
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.