Praise the Lord (YHWH), O my soul; and all that is within me, praise his holy name, (Psalm 103:1).
I needed this reminder today. The text goes on to encourage us to remember all the good things God does for us. In the words of the psalmist, “forget not all his benefits.”
Due to the strange way I am wired, I have to fight being a “half-empty glass” kind of guy. When circumstances get shaky…so do I. I don’t know what was going on in David’s life when he wrote this psalm. But when I read the psalms David wrote, I can tell that he was wired a bit like I am. Maybe he was in a tough stretch when he wrote it and needed to remind himself of the bigger things that he could be grateful for even in the midst of tough times.
In the verses that follow today’s text, David identifies a few spiritual realities that can always get our minds on the things that are really important. Here are five “praise prompters” David points out:
1. He forgives all my sins.
2. He heals all my diseases.
3. He redeems my life.
4. He crowns me with love and compassion.
5. He satisfies my desires with good things.
The outcome of giving the Lord our praise for these things is that “my youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” I’m not sure how old David was when he wrote the psalm, but a few of us could use a little youth renewing in our lives! I think I’ll write a little “P” on my hand to remind me to praise the Lord today.