SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Psalm 103: 1-5 - Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s (ESV).
PRAYER FOCUS
Do not forget “all His benefits”! The LORD has provided us with such a great salvation. Today’s Scripture Focus encourages us to recall all the benefits of our salvation. The list is quite comprehensive: forgiveness of all sin, healing of all sickness, redemption, blessings, satisfaction, and renewal. Sometimes when circumstances are not as we had expected, it is easy to forget the vastness of God’s goodness to us – all of which is embodied in the gift of His Son Jesus Christ. He was made to be sin for us so that we can be made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:21). His body was broken so that our bodies can be healed and whole (1 Peter 2:24).
He was made a curse for us so that we can be redeemed from the curse and receive the blessings of Abraham in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:13-14). Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life that satisfies our every hunger (John 6:35). We are regenerated and renewed by the Holy Spirit who was poured out on us through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:5). As we consider the enormity of what Jesus has done for us, we will bless the LORD with “all that is within” us!
To bless the LORD is to speak well of His greatness and His goodness. The Psalmist David is exhorting us to declare God’s goodness from the very depths of our soul. Occasionally, we must encourage ourselves to proclaim the truth of God’s Word in spite of the difficulties that surround us. When we refuse to be swayed by our circumstances and place our focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2), these spiritual truths become more real and “the things of earth will grow strangely dim…”
RESPONSE
Today let’s meditate today on the blessings of the LORD, consciously bringing them to our mind. Let’s allow the LORD to assure us that He has left nothing undone in his provision for us. Then, we can praise Him for those blessings. We will praise Him audibly; if necessary, we will begin with a whisper and increase the volume as our confidence in His goodness increases.
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