DIVINE CONNECTION DAILY DEVOTIONAL BY OLADELE T•E
THEME: PRAISE GOD FOR ALL HIS BENEFITS!
TEXT: [NKJV] PSALM 103:1-2
"Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! [2] Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits."
Praise is a deliberate response of the heart to the goodness, faithfulness, greatness, and loving-kindness of God. It is an acknowledgment that God is worthy of our worship and this is not merely because of what He does for us, but because of who He is. In our text, David speaks directly to his own soul: “Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!” This is significant because David was not waiting for someone else to remind him to praise God. He was commanding his own soul to remember the Lord and respond appropriately to His goodness. He then says, “And forget not all His benefits.”
One of the greatest enemies of thanksgiving is forgetfulness. When we forget what God has done, we can become consumed by what we are still waiting for. We may focus so much on unanswered prayers that we lose sight of answered prayers. We may concentrate on present challenges and forget previous victories. We may look at what is missing and overlook the countless things God has already provided. David understood the importance of remembering God's benefits. God has been good in more ways than we can count. His benefits include His salvation, mercy, forgiveness, protection, provision, healing, preservation, guidance, favor, peace, strength, deliverance, and daily sustenance. Even the things we sometimes consider ordinary are expressions of His goodness.
The next verses of Psalm 103 remind us of some of these benefits: He forgives our iniquities, heals our diseases, redeems our lives from destruction, crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies, satisfies our mouths with good things, and renews our strength. What a list of benefits! Sometimes, we ask God for something new while failing to praise Him for what He has already done. But praise changes our perspective. It helps us look back and recognize the faithfulness of God. Don't allow what you are waiting for to make you forget what God has already done. You may not have everything you desire yet, but if you belong to Christ, you have already received an eternal treasure that can never be compared with earthly possessions. Let your heart praise Him. Let your mouth praise Him. Let everything within you bless His holy name!
PRAYER POINTS:
Father, I bless Your holy name. I thank You for Your goodness, mercy, faithfulness, protection, provision, and unfailing love toward me.
Father, Forgive me for every time I have allowed my challenges to make me forget Your benefits.
Father, Open my eyes to recognize and appreciate all that You have done, all that You are doing, and all that You will yet do.
Father, Let my life continually testify of Your goodness.
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