31. Psalm 103 ~ a prayer of meditation on the goodness of God
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 iniquities; who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The LORD executes righteousness and judgment for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Like as a father pities his children, so the LORD pities them who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them who fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children; to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.
The LORD has prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word. Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Bless the LORD, all His works in all places of His dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
This passage is part of a series of prayers taken directly from Scripture. Please join me in experiencing a new depth in our relationship with a personal God by praying the words from His Holy Bible. Read them aloud whenever possible, in a spirit of prayer to the Father, in the name of Jesus, trusting that He will receive them from your heart and answer the same way He answered the original writers.
But do not pray these prayers until you have first prayed to God in repentance of sin for salvation. If He is not your Father, that is where you must begin. You see, we are God’s enemies from birth, prone to follow our own will and reject His. But God loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to become sin for us, that we could become righteous before Him. We accept the righteousness of Christ by faith. This is the only way to please a holy God. This is where the relationship begins. If you have not accepted the gift of salvation, then the first prayer you need to pray is the one asking God to forgive you of your sins. I will not provide you with that prayer, because that is between you and God alone. No man can put those words in your mouth. But I will share the message briefly with you here, and if you need more, I will gladly talk with you further if you will contact me. God’s plan of salvation is demonstrated in both the Old and New Testaments because it is the message of the entire Bible to the entire world.
Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
If you have called on the name of the Lord to save you, I would like to know so we can rejoice together. The angels in heaven are already rejoicing.
Photo taken in Milton, FL, 2018
The Abundant Heart 