“Praise the Lord, I tell myself; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things he does for me:
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He ransoms me from death and surrounds me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!”
Psalm 103:1-5; NLT 1996
Like an old song on the radio that can transport me to a place and time as real as yesterday, Psalms 103 transports me to the fall of 1998 when I first began loving and following Jesus and memories of peace instead of sorrow, joy instead of regret fill my heart and mind.
I grew up religious but didn’t begin to follow Jesus as my Savior and Lord, until August 16, 1998. Those early days of attending Shady Grove, experiencing freedom in worship, and learning from Pastor Olen hold rich, deep, joyful memories for me. I was like a parched man who found a clear stream – I couldn’t get enough as I drank in His presence and His Truth!
Pastor Olen had recently done a teaching on praying the scriptures, and I decided to put it into practice with Psalms 103 and it quickly became my daily, go-to praise and prayer guide.
“Praise the Lord I tell myself, with my whole heart I will praise his holy name!” I’d exclaim while walking around the park near the school I taught, followed by a corresponding praise that rose in my heart, “G-d you are good! You are holy!! There’s none like you! You are high above all the earth!” On and on I’d go until my heart emptied, then I proceeded to the next verse.
“Praise the Lord I tell myself and never forget the good things He does for me!” Followed by a soul-felt response, “Soul you WILL praise G-d today! You WILL look to Him and remember His goodness!”
On and on I would go, marching around the park on the paved path, exclaiming the verse out loud then answering with a corresponding praise or prayer.
From then until now, it has been my go to prayer and praise guide, especially when emotions are high or my heart is in a dark place- verse by verse I go, quoting it, praying it, – for me and for others- exalting Him and changing the atmosphere of my soul.
I had to smile when I read today’s passage and maybe for the first time, I paid attention to the title of the chapter; Psalm: Praise for the Lord’s Mercies, a Psalm of David.
Yes, He’s been so merciful to me, and I’m so grateful for how His Word provides a guide to live by in good times and in bad.
May we find peace, hope, and great joy in His Word today, Words of life that sustain and nourish us.
Father – Thank You for Your mercy and Your Word. Thank You for Pastor Olen and Shady Grove. Thank You for redeeming me. I am so grateful! You truly are good. Your leadership is absolutely perfect in my life and I trust You in all things. Amen.
Daily Reading: Psalms 102-104