Psalm 103:1-5 Thursday July 9th

[Fletch]

Psalm 103:1-5 (New International Version)

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, O 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.




It is a delightful and profitable occupation to mark the hand of God in the lives of ancient saints, and to observe His goodness in delivering them, His mercy in pardoning them, and His faithfulness in keeping His covenant with them. But would it not be even more interesting and profitable for us to remark the hand of God in our own lives? Should we not to look upon our own history as being at least as full of God, as full of His goodness and of His truth, as much a proof of His faithfulness and veracity, as the lives of any of the saints who have gone before? We do our Lord an injustice when we suppose that He wrought all His mighty acts, and showed Himself strong for those in the early time, but does not perform wonders or lay bare His arm for the saints who are now upon the earth. Let's review our own lives. Surely in these we may discover some happy incidents, refreshing to ourselves and glorifying to our God. Have you had no deliverance's? Have you passed through no rivers, supported by the divine presence? Have you walked through no fires unharmed? Have you had no manifestations? Have you had no choice favors? The God who gave Solomon the desire of his heart, has He never listened to you and answered your requests? That God of lavish bounty of whom David sang, "Who satisfies my mouth with good things," has He never satiated you with fatness? Have you never been made to lie down in green pastures? Have you never been led by the still waters? Surely the goodness of God has been the same to us as to the saints of old. Let us, then, weave His mercies into a song. Let us take the pure gold of thankfulness, and the jewels of praise and make them into another crown for the head of Jesus. Let our souls give forth music as sweet and as exhilarating as came from David's harp, while we praise the Lord whose mercy endures for ever.

[demonhunterfan]

"2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-..."

Oh, how quickly we tend to forget! I remember full well, realizing God's Hand, and HIS Eyes, upon me after my buddy's sister & I ended our affair. She was called 'the whore of the Hollow' having been abused terribly by her alcoholic husband (beat to the point of hospitalization). Her 'escape' was sex-- with anyone and everyone around 'Hungry Hollow' where she lived. Shortly after being saved, I was introduced to her and her 2 young boys, Daniel & John. She also needed to forgive her Mom, who didn't believe her when she told her Mom at 8 years of age that one of her Mom's boyfriends had been raping her. She was/is a good woman, and years later accepted Christ. During our 2 month affair, we went at it hot & heavy with perhaps a lot more love being given her by me than others. I remember asking my buddy Ron & his wife about getting together with her, (Shirley, but everyone called her 'Tiny'), and Ron at first was hesitant to have me get involved with her, but found himself saying, "...but you would treat her differently". I know I served HIM well, teaching and encouraging Tiny, as well as loving her, and her boys, like they'd not been for a long time. After we ended the physical part, we stayed in touch for almost 2 years, and God had me call her so I could find out she had thyroid cancer (which HE healed her of). During my grieving my 'loss' God reminded me of HIS protecting me from disease while I was with Tiny. HE was the only protection we ever used. If I had been with Tiny for my purposes only, I would not have had HIS protection. Big lesson for a young Christian, and big praise and thankfullness for my Lord and Savior. Been a ton, or more, of the same over the years-- always some testimony to give to someone who needs to hear what HE has done from someone who has personally experienced it. Yes! "Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name."

Later and God bless