Karrilee is a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. She is a writer, reader, pray-er, photographer, beach lover, laugh seeker…serving God to the best of her ability. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and nearly grown girlie. She is passionate about diving in deeper with the Lord and inviting others to discover His love for them. Her life message is…Speak Life. Be Love. Shine On. Karrilee loves to share her heart and what the Lord is speaking to her over at Abiding Love, Abounding Grace.
Take some time to read Psalm 103.
I have a hard time picking favorites! It really doesn’t matter what we are talking about. It is rare if I can answer any kind of “What’s your favorite…” question at all. Normally, I give a Top Five (or Top Ten… you get the idea). But when I was asked to pick a Psalm between 100 and anything else…Psalm 103 wins, hands down. Every. Single. Time.
Oh sure – there
are other great Psalms, but this one? This one captured my heart years
ago! Let’s look at in full, because – well… how can you I pick a favorite verse, right? (It’s like you get me already!)
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
The Lord performs righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, and its place acknowledges it no longer. But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, To those who keep His covenant and remember His precepts to do them.”
The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
and His sovereignty rules over all.
Bless the Lord, you His angels,
mighty in strength, who perform His word,
obeying the voice of His word!
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
you who serve Him, doing His will.
Bless the Lord, all you works of His, in all places of His dominion;
bless the Lord, O my soul!” –Psalm 103
I mean, gah!? So good, right?
Let’s just break it down a little. We will focus on just the beginning, but I beg you to press in and read the rest slowly, once again…it’s breathtaking!
Just these first few verses will cause you to catch your breath and bless the Lord! Verses 1-5 are incredibly good…packed to the brim with Good News!
From the very start, a now older King David has learned the value of reminding himself – of telling his soul – what to do! To bless, to affectionately, gratefully praise the Lord from his deepest parts. Sometimes this comes easily. Some seasons are full of goodness and sunshine and blessing the Lord spills out of the overflow of a grateful heart. But some seasons? There are some seasons where we are going to have to tell our souls to do it anyway!
And what is the best way to remind ourselves that He is worthy of praise? It’s to remind ourselves of all His benefits! To testify of how good He is – how good He has been, and how good He promises to be still!
“Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases…”
In The Message it reads like this:
“He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.”
“All” is good, my friends! “Every one” brings hope and healing as soon as you begin to declare it! Speak it by faith, say it out loud and feel it begin to sink in deep…know that it is true!
I love in the Amplified Bible how it expands verse 4 to show that the Lord is He “Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy…” (Yes, please!).
Lastly, verse 5 in The Message reads like this,
“He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.”
Who doesn’t want that?
Personally, I think I love this Psalm so much because it is so full of promises.
No matter what I am facing, this Psalm reminds my soul that my God has taken care of it! Whatever comes our way…whatever this life may throw at us…when we remind our souls to bless the Lord, our perspective changes, our hope arises, and we remember that He is good!
I also love this Psalm so much because my Honey put its words to music and we walk around singing it often in this house! Here is a little sampling… an acoustic version of my Honey and one of his amazingly talented sisters, singing a little Psalm 103.
Turn it up and enter in!
Tell your soul to bless His holy name with us!
Deep Breaths:
1. Reread Psalm 103 and choose a verse (or five) to write down. Turn them into a piece of art if you like or write them on a 3×5 card and put them on your mirror or by the sink. May the truth found here continue to wash over you throughout the day.
2. It can be challenging to bless the Lord in the hard seasons. If you are walking through a hard season right now, talk to God about it and take a few minutes to bless Him even when it hurts. I pray His Spirit uplifts yours as you offer up praise to Jesus.
3. For further study visit the Digging Into His Word tab and try the bible study exercise found there on this Psalm.
LOVE THIS …. I love the photo of the sun and the wood …. amazing!!
Thanks so much, Karen! Thanks for stopping by and worshiping with us a bit today! (And that photo? I know, right? I can't take credit – that one comes from Katie!)
Thank you Karen.:)
I love Karrilee too!! 🙂 I love the reminder that "when we remind our souls to bless the Lord, our perspective changes, our hope arises, and we remember that He is good!" And that is an amazing song from your honey. Thanks for sharing it with us today!
Awww – you girls… I love you both too! #kindred (It was fun to share a little of my Honey and what sounds tend to fill our home… I know, I am so blessed!) Glad you stopped by today, friend!
Bless the Lord O' my soul…that You would save my life from the pit!!! YES YES YES. Love this Psalm as well. I love how you broke it down too.
Alecia… Yes! Yes! Yes!!! This Psalm is so full to overflowing with His goodness and His promises… how can we not find ourselves, no matter our circumstances, joining in with David in telling our souls to Bless the Lord? So happy you stopped by today!
This series and every post . . . absolute goodness (I have the weekend ones to catch up on). There is so much I still haven't read in the Bible and while I've read many of the Psalms, I think I've only read pieces of this one. I'm just parking in the goodness of this one right now. And looking forward to coming back tonight to listen to the video from home, Karrilee. Bless the Lord O' my soul…. xoxo
Beth, aren't you loving this series? Every post has been so great! I hope you fall for Ps103 as I have! It's so full of Promises! Enjoy the video… I am not gifted at videography but you get the heart of it anyway! 😉
Beth- You?! Gift of encouragement! And this Karrilee lady too!:) Two peas in a pod as far as encouragement goes.
You're always young in his presence. mmmhmmmmm…love it. Thanks for sharing!
I know, right Jen? I mean – all the promises in there are great… but to always remain young in the presence of our Bridegroom? Mmm Hmm! Happy you stopped by today!
I love the video! I also started hearing a tune in my head, and my husband helped me to remember that "Tender Mercy" by Enter the Worship Circle is also based on this Psalm:
http://youtu.be/SNEcqg67I9Y
I am in a hard season now, I so appreciate your encouragement to yet Bless the Lord, to Bless His Holy Name!
Precious Lord, please let Kelley see Your presence with her, helping her, carrying her, through this hard season. Help her find Your joy and rest in Your peace. Provide for all her needs and be her everything. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Amen! I am praying in agreement with Sabra here this morning… asking the Lord to make Himself known to you in a deeper way in the midst of this hard season, Kelley! I pray this tune… well – this psalm to whichever tune – will get stuck in your head, your heart, and your spirit and as you hum it and sing it out – the truth of these Promises will stir up hope and will give you a different perspective! I will stand with you Kelley, telling your soul and my own to Bless His Holy Name!
"Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust." I love this! He knows us–how weak we are. And He has compassion on us. He provides all the strength needed to fill in where our weakness ends. Without Him, I can do nothing, because I am "but dust."
Too hard to pick just one favorite from this psalm. The whole thing is full of God's greatness! Thanks, Karrilee!
Oh I am so glad I am not alone in that whole 'I can't possibly pick just one'… so glad you stopped by Sabra!
Bless the Lord, O my soul! I love this Psalm and appreciate your beautiful words that accompany it! I was especially touched by, "No matter what I am facing, this Psalm reminds my soul that my God has taken care of it!" Thank you and Amen! Blessings to you!
Thanks so much Julie… each of us needs that reminder, right? No matter what, God has taken care of it! I remember a few years ago, when facing something heavy, when I finally took it to Him in prayer, He whispered to my heart, "If it concerns you, it concerns Me!" and that brought such peace! So thankful you stopped by!
This is such a beautiful song. This psalm also reminds me of Matt Redman's song "10,000 Reasons." God is so very good. I need to live my life deeply rooted in his goodness. I hope you have a wonderful day!
Thanks so much for stopping by Jo Rose! Amen… let us all live our lives deeply rooted in His goodness!
Lovely Scripture to meditate on and thanks for the link to the song!
Thanks Marty! It is so full of great verses! Glad you enjoyed the song too!