Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Psalm 103:2
You know what is so great about this scripture? Notice that it says “benefits”, not “benefit”. God didn’t only provide forgiveness for our sins; He provides so much more for us – if we choose to receive it all. The best part of God’s benefits is that they are FREE, and you don’t have to wait 90 days before they kick in like you do when you start a job!
A reading of the rest of Psalm 103 tells us what He provides for us:
He forgives our sins.
He heals our diseases.
He redeems our lives from destruction.
He crowns us with loving kindness and tender mercies.
He satisfies our mouths with good things so our youth is renewed.
He executes righteousness and judgment for us against oppression.
He sets us free.
He makes His ways known to us.
He gives us His grace and mercy in times of need.
He doesn’t give us what we deserve and doesn’t punish us.
He removes our transgressions as far as the east is from the west.
He knows us, knows how we are made.
Just because something is provided for does not necessarily mean it is automatically possessed. What must we do to appropriate all He has provided? This same psalm tells us. Verses 17 & 18:
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.
What does it mean to “fear Him”? Are we to be afraid of Him? Hardly. The word “fear” here means to be in awe of, to respect, and to have reverence for. When we put Him first, when we spend time with Him, when we align our lives with what He says, and when we are doers of the Word, we fear Him and we are keeping His covenant.
Those who have read this blog so far know that the one thing I stress most of all is the need to spend time alone with God. It is in these times that He teaches you, comforts you, shows you the way to go, prunes you, tells you His plans for you, and so much more. Go to Him today, sit a spell and let Him tell you about the benefits He has for you!
Keep the faith!