Morning Prayer: Blessing God
From Morning Prayer today: Responsory: "I will bless the Lord all my life long.".
When Scripture says, “I will bless the Lord all my life long,” it does not mean we give God something He lacks. It means we respond to the God who lacks nothing.
That’s the heart of it.
What “blessing God” doesn’t mean
It doesn’t mean we confer grace, protection, or favor on Him.
It doesn’t mean God is improved, enriched, or made happier by our words.
It doesn’t mean God is waiting for us to bless Him so He can be complete.
God is already perfect fullness, the One from whom all blessing flows.
What it does mean
In Scripture, to bless God means:
To acknowledge who He is — to speak well of His goodness, His faithfulness, His mercy.
To praise Him publicly — to let our words and actions reveal His worth.
To thank Him — gratitude is one of the purest forms of blessing.
To align our lives with His will — a life lived in fidelity is itself a blessing offered back to God.
To return love for love — not as equals, but as creatures who recognize the Giver.
In Hebrew, the verb barak (“to bless”) has the sense of bending the knee. So, when we “bless the Lord,” we are not elevating Him; we are lowering ourselves in reverence, acknowledging His greatness.
In short:
God blesses us by giving. We bless God by recognizing.
He blesses us with gifts; we bless Him with gratitude.
He blesses us with grace; we bless Him with praise.
He blesses us by stooping down; we bless Him by lifting our hearts up.
The deeper spiritual meaning
To say “I will bless the Lord all my life long” is to make a promise about the shape of your life:
My words will honor Him.
My choices will reflect Him.
My gratitude will not be seasonal.
My praise will not depend on my circumstances.
It is a commitment to live in such a way that God’s goodness is made visible through you.
Read more Morning Prayer posts: MSI Press Blog
Note about Morning Prayer: Each morning prayer post reflects on one phrase from the Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. which can be found in the iBreviary (a downloadable app), Universalis (website) or Divine Office (publication and website).
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Read more Morning Prayer posts.
Morning Prayer posts inspired by Being Catholic in Troubled Times (Dennis Ortman)
Book Description:
These are times that try our souls. This book is addressed to all, not just Catholics, who search for deeper meaning in tough times. Our age is marked by division and alienation. We long for some message that will bring peace to our world and our hearts.
This book suggests that the Catholic faith can provide strength in these troubled times. The word "catholic" means "all-embracing, universal." Nothing is excluded in the catholic mind. The truth that sets us free can be found everywhere, especially in unexpected places. It is often hidden in plain sight. In our darkest moments, we find new light and life. When we are most despairing, a ray of hope shines through.
Dr. Dennis Ortman, former priest and current psychologist, is the author of Anger Anonymous, Anxiety Anonymous, Depression Anonymous, Being Catholic in Troubled Times, and Life, Liberty, and COVID-19.
For more posts by and about Dennis and his award-winning books, click HERE.
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