The Lord and HIs Mercies

One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 103. It really ministers to me of the goodness and compassion and the mercy of the Lord. I love how it starts with David speaking to his soul, telling it to Bless the Lord with everything within himself. He speaks to himself to remember the Lords benefits and what the Lord has done for him. (Did you know even when we don't feel like it, we can tell our souls to bless the Lord?)

David then goes on to talk of how loving and compssionate the Lord is and how He deals with our sins. And he finishes off with telling all to bless the Lord.

I read this psalm often. When I'm down, it lifts me up. When I'm coveting, it reminds me of what the Lord has done for me. When I've sinned it reminds me of the nature of my Lord to be full of mercy. And so instead of running when I've done something wrong, it helps me to turn in towards the Lord and trust in his mercy and forgiveness and restoration.

That brings such great peace to me. That if I do something wrong I can actually come before a loving and compassionate God to be forgiven. He will not turn me away, or turn away from me. What comfort. That alone makes me want to say, "Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me bless His Holy Name!"

I've written Psalm 103 out in entirety below. Please feel free to just read and let the Word of God wash over you and minister to your heart. I pray that today you may know this great mercy and compassion from the Lord towards yourself, and hopefully together we may say "Bless the Lord, oh my soul!"

Psalm 103

Of David.

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and
forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4who 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
As for man, his days are like grass, he
flourishes 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, O my soul.