Bless the Lord, O My Soul!

Psalm 103 is a very familiar passage around our home. In fact, we sing a good bit of it every day. Last week, though, as I read it anew, looking for the reasons I am called to Bless The Lord with my soul, my heart was thrilled as I rehearsed again all that God has done for me that is worthy of my praise! I hope this will be as encouraging to you as you start your week as it was to me as I ended mine last week.

In all these things we are called upon to Bless The Lord, for if His praise does not overflow from hearts and souls that love Him solely, it will never change us more into His image. What kind of an impact would it make on our families if we all determined to Bless the Lord at all times… if His praise were continually on our lips?

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Praise Him for all His Benefits.

Don’t neglect to notice and return thanks for even the small blessings God bestows upon you! How different would our weeks run, if we paid such close attention to God’s blessings on our daily life that we never missed even a seemingly insignificant one. Bless the Lord, O My Soul!

Praise Him for His Forgiveness.

As a parent there have been many times when my forgiveness has brought reconciliation to the relationship between my child and myself that had been broken. (There have also been many times when the forgiveness has had to be extended from my child to me as well.) Often that moment of reconciliation is capped by a tearful hug– and generally laughter or great conversation as we revel once again in the love we share. How amazing to contemplate the overwhelming forgiveness of our Heavenly Father, the One Who will never need to ask forgiveness of us! He is always ready to forgive and welcome us back into precious fellowship with Him. What a reason to Bless The Lord, O My Soul!!

Praise Him For His Healing.

God is the Great Physician. He is able to heal all our diseases. He heals our hearts. He heals our families. He is all we need for this life and the next. Even when physical healing is not in His plan for us, He promises to give grace for every hour and peace that passes all understanding. Bless the Lord, O My Soul!!

Praise Him For Redemption.

Our first thought of praise every day should be for the great gift God gave through the redemption offered in Jesus Christ alone. He left the throne of Heaven to walk among the very men He came to save. What a wonderful Savior! Bless the Lord, O My Soul!!

Praise Him For His Steadfast Love and Mercy.

His steadfast love and mercy are concepts that I could meditate on all day. Steadfast love— love that never changes— is love that is not conditional on my actions or reactions, because it is perfect love. Wow! Mercy literally is compassion for the miserable, according to Eastons Bible Dictionary. Nothing could have been more true when we think of the mercy shown to us on the cross, even in our miserable, helpless state. God shows His steadfast love and mercy to us daily— Bless the Lord, O My Soul!

Praise Him For Satisfying Our Hearts With Good Things.

When I take the time to look around me, I can see very little but amazingly good things. God has provided all of those. He has given me more than I need and way more than I deserve. I can’t help but wonder, though, am I truly satisfied with those good things, or am I seeking more? Maybe it is time to add a heaping helping of gratitude for all those good things to those times I Bless the Lord, O My Soul.

Praise Him For His Mercy and Grace.

He is merciful and loving towards those who don’t deserve it. None of us are worthy of His mercy and grace, and yet He bestows it generously. His mercies are new every morning, and His grace is sufficient for every circumstance of every day. Bless the Lord, O My Soul!

Praise Him For Being Slow To Anger.

No comment necessary! Bless the Lord, O My Soul!!

Praise Him For Love That Is Beyond Our Imagination.

Love that is boundless. Love that is completely undeserved. Love that cannot be lost. Love that flowed freely along with the precious blood of Jesus at Calvary, paying our sin debt once and for all. Bless the Lord, O My Soul!!

Praise Him For Forgiveness That Casts Our Faults Out Of His Thoughts And Mind.

God does not bear a grudge! Hallelujah! My sins, though so many, are cast as far as the east is from the west when I repent and return to the Lord. He does not treat me as my sin deserves. What Love! What Grace! Bless the Lord, O My Soul!

Praise Him For His Compassion.

He loved me before I was even formed. He saw me in my need and made a way for me to live fully in Him and to someday live eternally WITH Him. How could I not Bless the Lord, O My Soul?

Praise Him For His Steadfast Love And Righteousness That Extends To All Generations.

Not only is His love for me amazing, but His love and grace and mercy and righteousness are sufficient for all mankind! His love extends beyond borders and has been displayed throughout the ages. Bless the Lord, O My Soul!

Bless The Lord, O My Soul!

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. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul! (Psalm 103)