Sharing from the WORD

Psalm 103: Prayer of Thanks & Praise

“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children..” (v13-17)

This chapter, specially from v13-17, made me reflect on how undeserving I am of God’s love and grace. My actions and thoughts are sinful… and He knows that! (v14). My plans tend to be filled with activities to boost my own success.. And He knows that! I can’t help but admit that even my actions of service sometimes can be tinted with a hint of selfishness and a reflection of my hunger in acceptance and love from other people. God knows that too. There is, indeed, nothing in me that makes me worthy of God’s love, grace, and compassion. But, He gives it willingly anyways (v13) through the cross. Jesus dies for us willingly anyways. His steadfast love is unchanging even when we turn our backs on Him. Even when He knows that we are sinners, even when we are the ones who crucified Him on that cross… even when He knows we will ultimately fade away like dust…God chooses to die for us, making a way for us to be with Him again.

I often find myself always asking God to satisfy my needs and desires in my prayers, giving Him a list of things I want Him to do. This chapter has reminded me to not take God for granted, but to thank Him for the salvation that I do not deserve in my prayers. To be honest, I don’t even think I deserve to be in the presence of such a holy and perfect God and pray to Him!

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (v2-5).

So let us pray praises to Him! Let us not forget the fact that He has sacrificed His life for us in complete obedience!

- Yoyo