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! May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!
—Scripture: Psalm 134:1–3

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Bless the LORD and Be Blessed
By Jennifer Kane

My Father God,
I lift up my hands—
not in my strength, but in surrender,
in worship that rises like incense in the stillness.

You, who made the heavens and the earth,
who stretched the stars across the canvas of night,
are worthy of all blessing and praise.

Thank You for the gift of Your unending love,
for grace that flows like a river,
steady and deep, even when I waver.

Let my heart be a sanctuary of gratitude—
as I serve You in quiet moments and in labor,
in songs and in silence,
in joy and in tears.

Bless me, Lord, not with gold or gain,
but with Your presence,
with peace that wraps around my soul
like a warm cloak in the cold of night.

I bless You, not because I am worthy,
but because You are holy.
Because in lifting You high,
I am lifted from the dust.

May Your light shine over me
in the day when the sun stands strong,
and in the night, when shadows lengthen—
watch over me,
guard me as I rest,
and wake me with new mercies.

All glory belongs to You, O LORD,
the Maker, the Keeper, the Redeemer of all.
Bless the LORD—
and be blessed.

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Scripture: Psalm 134:1–3

God’s people bless Him with thanks and praise, and He blesses them with power and peace.

To “bless the LORD” is not to bestow something upon Him—after all, He lacks nothing—but to honor Him with heartfelt gratitude and praise. The Hebrew root barak implies kneeling in reverence, speaking well of His name, and acknowledging His works.

The psalmist calls upon the servants of the LORD to not stand silent but to actively and joyfully worship, even in the night hours. This is a reminder to us: praise is not just for the daylight or for good times. We’re called to lift our hands and hearts even in the darkness, even when we don’t understand God’s plan.

Just like Paul and Silas praised God in prison at midnight (Acts 16:25), we, too, can offer worship in our hardest moments. Praising God in the “night” of our trials testifies that He is worthy—no matter our circumstances.

The psalm closes not with a command but a prayer: “May the LORD bless you from Zion.” It is personal, singular—God sees you. The same God who formed the heavens and the earth is the one who blesses you from His holy dwelling.

This is not a random or weak blessing. It is the Creator’s favor—strong enough to sustain you, guide you, and send you out with His presence. Just as worshipers left Zion to return home, carrying the memory and power of their worship, we are reminded that God’s blessings are not confined to a temple or a moment. They follow us.

What blessings of God have followed you recently, even after you left the “mountaintop” moments of worship?

This week, intentionally bless the Lord with your words—speak well of Him to others, write down your thanks, or sing a psalm aloud. And trust that He will bless you, not just in spiritual ways, but in personal and tangible ones. Praise goes up—and grace comes down.

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Father God, thank You for the privilege of praising You. Help me lift my hands in both joy and sorrow, day and night. Thank You that Your blessing flows from Zion into every part of my life. You are my Creator, my Redeemer, and my daily Sustainer. I bless Your name, and I receive Your blessing with open hands. Thank you Jesus for all you’ve done, amen.

May 14 2025