Have you ever considered the power of specific praise? Here is what I mean. When the Psalmist David began to give the Lord praise and thanksgiving for what He had done in his life, he was very specific about it. And because he was, the Lord then began to move on his behalf in greater measure in each of those individual areas. Take a look at the verses below, and you will see what I mean.

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:1-5 KJV

Notice that as the Psalmist begins that he calls upon his soul to bless the Lord. Our soul is made up of our mind, will, and emotions, and many believers allow it to run in whichever direction it chooses. But David ordered his soul to praise the Lord.

Then we find in the second verse one of the major reasons people aren’t filled with praise. They have forgotten all His benefits. But again, David was specific with his praise, which kept him from forgetting.

  • He praised the Lord because he forgave him of ALL his iniquities.
  • He praised the Lord because he healed ALL of his diseases.
  • He praised the Lord because He redeemed his life from destruction.
  • He praised the Lord because He crowned his life with loving kindness and tender mercies.
  • He praised the Lord because He satisfied his mouth with good things.
  • He praised the Lord because He renewed his youth like the eagles.

The Psalmist was very specific in his praise! And this specific praise and thanksgiving not only caused the Lord to move on his behalf in every one of the  areas he mentions, but it also kept him from forgetting all of the Lord’s benefits.

PRAISING THE LORD KEEPS YOU FROM FORGETTING

10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. 11 Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: 12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;” Deuteronomy 8:10-14 KJV

It’s amazing how many people seem to draw a blank during Thanksgiving time as to what all the Lord has done for them, for which they should be glad and give thanks. And it’s not that the Lord hasn’t done anything for them, it’s just that because of their lack of gratitude, they have already forgotten what He has done.

And lest you think no one would ever really forget like that, then perhaps you should revisit the story of when Jesus healed the ten lepers from a horrific disease which would eat away at them until they died a miserable death. Of the ten, only one returned to give the Lord Jesus thanks (see Luke 17:11-19).

We are to praise the Lord for every one of His individual blessings. Because the Lord makes it clear in this passage of Scripture, that blessing the Lord will keep you from forgetting how good God has been to you. I have discovered that people who do not praise the Lord for what He has done for them will soon forget that all they have came from Him in the first place.

Praise is faith in action! And praise and thanksgiving gets your eyes off from the conflict you are currently battling and places them on our victorious Lord and Conqueror, Jesus Christ.

We are to praise the Lord continually (see Psalm 34:1-3). That means up times, down times, good times, bad times, and at all times! And specific praise and thanksgiving is the bridge between:

Sickness and health

Poverty and prosperity

Discouragement and hope

Bondage and liberty

Failure and success

Praise is the language of faith, the language of victory, and the language of heaven. And continually giving thanksgiving and praise is the lifestyle of true believers (see Colossians 3:15).

We need to become specific in our thanksgiving and praise to God, and then watch how quickly things will begin to turn around in our lives when we do.