Here is what I learned while reading God’s Word today. I read, once again, Ps. 103. I just can’t seem to read this particular Psalm enough. I find this entire section (103-105) rich in reasons to worship.
It’s almost as if we hear David talking to himself here. I have often said that unless you can talk to yourself, you may need help. Not the other way around. On one occasion after the Amalekites had raided their camp while he was away and taken the women and children captive, David had to encourage himself in the Lord. I picture him walking into a field and telling himself, “I can do this. God is for me. He has an answer for this.”
We probably all have times when we need to encourage ourselves. The husband is being a jerk... the kids aren‘t acting right... the boss is being mean... school is overwhelming... maybe you need to come away from everything and do what David did. Talk to yourself. We surely have people in our lives that will encourage us when they can but often they are not around or have there own problems. We must take the initiative and give ourselves a pep talk. I am not just talking about positive confession. I’m talking about reminding ourselves what God has done for us.
“Soul,” David says, “bless the Lord, everything that is in me you bless the Lord for all of the benefits He gives me.” He is reminding himself that he needs to be grateful for the profit there is in belonging to God. He reminds himself of how God has forgiven and healed him. How God has purchased him from the auction block of sin and delivered him from the penalty of sin. He reminds himself of how wonderful and satisfying it is to be a recipient of the love and mercy of God. I am sure his heart soared as he did so and his perspective brightened.
I am glad that God is so merciful and faithful in His love. I am in need of that particular attribute of God every day. I am so happy to know that He is “slow to anger” and removes my sins in His compassion for me because He knows my “frame.” I am nothing without Him and will amount to nothing without Him. With Him I am blessed and abounding in so much to be grateful for. I have a Heavenly Father who loves me faithfully, steadfastly and forever. He will never be guilty of turning His back on me or giving up on me.
This makes Him worthy of my praise and worship. I should sing and be joyous in my disposition because of the benefits of belonging to God by covenant. It doesn’t matter how tough life is at the moment or what others think of me… He is worthy of my being joy-filled because of His favor and blessing on my life. This is not to say there will not be times of challenges or struggles but in them I must remember to do what David did and that is to encourage myself by rehearsing all the benefits of being a child of God even with the troubles I may have to endure here. As I do so it makes me cheerful in spite of what I may be going through. It is an expression of my faith and God is really pleased with that.
I am a child of God, highly favored, blessed with benefits, redeemed from eternal punishment, satisfied with good things and strengthened with His help. He is patient, gentle, merciful, compassionate and faithful to me. I can’t imagine how there could be a better deal than this! Thank You Father!
It’s almost as if we hear David talking to himself here. I have often said that unless you can talk to yourself, you may need help. Not the other way around. On one occasion after the Amalekites had raided their camp while he was away and taken the women and children captive, David had to encourage himself in the Lord. I picture him walking into a field and telling himself, “I can do this. God is for me. He has an answer for this.”
We probably all have times when we need to encourage ourselves. The husband is being a jerk... the kids aren‘t acting right... the boss is being mean... school is overwhelming... maybe you need to come away from everything and do what David did. Talk to yourself. We surely have people in our lives that will encourage us when they can but often they are not around or have there own problems. We must take the initiative and give ourselves a pep talk. I am not just talking about positive confession. I’m talking about reminding ourselves what God has done for us.
“Soul,” David says, “bless the Lord, everything that is in me you bless the Lord for all of the benefits He gives me.” He is reminding himself that he needs to be grateful for the profit there is in belonging to God. He reminds himself of how God has forgiven and healed him. How God has purchased him from the auction block of sin and delivered him from the penalty of sin. He reminds himself of how wonderful and satisfying it is to be a recipient of the love and mercy of God. I am sure his heart soared as he did so and his perspective brightened.
I am glad that God is so merciful and faithful in His love. I am in need of that particular attribute of God every day. I am so happy to know that He is “slow to anger” and removes my sins in His compassion for me because He knows my “frame.” I am nothing without Him and will amount to nothing without Him. With Him I am blessed and abounding in so much to be grateful for. I have a Heavenly Father who loves me faithfully, steadfastly and forever. He will never be guilty of turning His back on me or giving up on me.
This makes Him worthy of my praise and worship. I should sing and be joyous in my disposition because of the benefits of belonging to God by covenant. It doesn’t matter how tough life is at the moment or what others think of me… He is worthy of my being joy-filled because of His favor and blessing on my life. This is not to say there will not be times of challenges or struggles but in them I must remember to do what David did and that is to encourage myself by rehearsing all the benefits of being a child of God even with the troubles I may have to endure here. As I do so it makes me cheerful in spite of what I may be going through. It is an expression of my faith and God is really pleased with that.
I am a child of God, highly favored, blessed with benefits, redeemed from eternal punishment, satisfied with good things and strengthened with His help. He is patient, gentle, merciful, compassionate and faithful to me. I can’t imagine how there could be a better deal than this! Thank You Father!
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