Bless The Lord - by Stephen Blankenship

Verse of the Month Scripture Reference: Psalm 34:1
“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
— Psalm 34:1 (ESV)

When we first read Psalm 34 verse one, we may ask ourselves the question, How can the Psalmist bless the Lord? How can I bless the Lord?  How can I bless the one from whom all blessings come?

To answer those questions, we must understand what it means to “Bless the Lord.”

What Does It Mean to “Bless the Lord”?

Here we understand that to “Bless the Lord” primarily means to praise, exalt and acknowledge God’s greatness and goodness. It involves recognizing His blessings, expressing gratitude and offering adoration and reverence. It means honoring God with our words, hearts, and attitudes. We often ask God to bless us—but how often do we think about blessing Him?

It’s not that God needs our praise to survive. But our praise magnifies Him in our hearts. It shifts our focus from our problems to His power, from our worries to His wisdom.

When we experience that relationship with a Holy God we want to “Bless” Him. From the very core of our being we have a longing, a resolve even, to respond to life not based on feelings or circumstances, but on faith. Trusting in the one who has provided us with the greatest blessing, a relationship with our creator.  In Psalm 34:1 David, the psalmist, writes from a place of gratitude and conviction:

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

A Declaration of the Will

Notice how David begins: "I will."
This isn't a passing thought or a hopeful wish; it is a firm choice. Worship is not merely emotional overflow when things are good—it's an act of the will, a conscious decision. David doesn’t say, “I feel like blessing the Lord today,” or “When things go well, I’ll praise Him.” Instead, he says, “I will bless the Lord at all times.”

This kind of praise transcends seasons. It doesn’t wait for favorable conditions. It doesn’t depend on health, finances, approval, or clarity. It is rooted in who God is, not our circumstances or situations.

At All Times?

That phrase—“at all times”—is especially challenging. It invites us to examine our response in the highs and lows of life. Can we really bless the Lord when:

•The job falls through?
•A relationship ends?
•A diagnosis comes?
•Anxiety creeps in at night?

David says yes. In fact, when he wrote this Psalm, he was fleeing for his life (1 Samuel 21). His praise wasn’t coming from a palace—it was birthed in a cave. He was in hiding, not in comfort.
Yet from that place, he wrote about continual praise.

“Continually Be in My Mouth”

Praise that is continual doesn’t mean we’re singing 24/7. It means that gratitude becomes our default. It shapes our conversations, our prayers, and even our internal dialogue. When God’s praise is continually in our mouth, negativity, complaining, and fear begin to lose their grip.

Imagine this: in every interaction, every challenge, every quiet moment, you carry a posture of worship and praise. That’s what David was getting at—a heart so full of reverence that it spills out in every season, every conversation, every thought!

An Examination of Our Heart

Psalm 34:1 invites us into a new rhythm of life. One that says:

“No matter what today holds, I choose to bless the Lord.
No matter what the news says, I will praise Him.
No matter what I feel, I will declare His goodness.”

This verse is anchored in the character of a God who is always worthy of our praise and exaltation, even when life is not always easy.

So, let this verse shape your posture.
Let it fill our mouth.
Let it anchor your soul.

As we examine our heart and our words and ask ourselves if we are in fact blessing the Lord at all times with His praise continually coming forth from our mouth!

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
— Psalm 34:1 (ESV)

At Glory Fellowship Psalm 34:1 is our corporate scripture memory verse of the month.

This has been a Verse of the Month (VOM) QuickTake. #vomquicktake #vom #foroursake