Forget Not All His Benefits (Ps 103:2)

This morning right before waking I had a dream that I received $103K from a company I was employed by nearly 20 years ago.  Not a bad way to wake up! I don't foresee that being a reality, but it did get me thinking.  In my past the Lord would sometimes use numbers to direct my thinking as I sat down to pray.  Often it was the time on the clock when I woke for no apparent reason in the middle of the night, and things like that.  I find the Lord is always speaking if I am listening.  So, this morning I thought I would open up Psalm 103, and let the words of David's psalm rattle around inside my mind and heart.  It has been a while since I read this particular psalm, and today it seems very applicable.  Here it is - Psalm 103:1-22 NIV:

[1] "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.

[6] The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

[7] He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
[8] The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
[9] He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
[10] he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
[11] For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
[12] as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

[13] As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
[14] for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
[15] The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field;
[16] the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
[17] But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children---
[18] with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

[19] The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

[20] Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
[21] Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
[22] Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul."


I don't know about you, but when I read this Psalm, its like a warm comfort blanket was just draped over my mind and heart, and I am at peace.  I think these are the kinds of words I need to fill my life with right now, rather than the craziness found just a few clicks away in social media and news. 

There is a peacefulness to David's words, a drawing me back to what is foundational, what is important, and what brings me rest.  He encourages us to forget NOT all the benefits of relationship with the Lord, and this is such a timely word.

Nothing has changed about God, about His character!
Nothing has changed in His ability to forgive, to heal, to have compassion, to bless, to love us!
Nothing has changed in the heavens where He is enthroned, where He rules from everlasting to everlasting!
He is still compassionate, still forgiving, still loving, still patient, still redeeming us, still saving us, still blessing us with good things, still working righteousness, still Lord over all!

Thank You Lord for this reminder today!  I will praise You with all my inmost being!

Praise the Lord!


May the peace and rest that is only found in the Lord be your blessing this day!

Sam