Here are your benefits

Psalm 103:1-5

Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
² Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
³ who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

I love hearing words of praise to God.  When we know a prayer has been answered, when we know a problem in the church has been conquered, when we know a hardened sinner meets Jesus and knows sins are forgiven, these are instances of praise to our God. 

You can think of your story, instances in your life when God moved and worked, bringing those changes which began or expanded your relationship with the Father.  That's a time when your heart leaps with praise and adoration of God.

Look at the printed text above and especially verse 2.  "² Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits."   Wait!  Benefits?  We like benefits.  In this one verse from Psalm 103 David gives us the encouragement that we should never forget the benefits from God.  The verses which follow list them. 

1.  God forgives all your sins.

2.  God heals your diseases.

3.  God redeems your life from the pit.

4.  God crowns you with love and compassion.

5.  God satisfies your desires with good things.

6.  God restores your youth like the eagle's. 

These are not necessarily benefits we anticipate from an attitude of "What's in it for me?"   Just remember God tells us a Father gives good gifts to his children.  We are such a blessed people when we realize God is saying, "These things I love giving to you."  Read the list again and again. 

Because of God's love for us, and our remembrance of all his benefits, we are eager to live our lives in constant praise of Him.

 

"Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name."

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