Today’s Reading:
Psalm 103
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgive all thine iniquities; who heal all thy diseases; who redeem thy life from destruction; who crown thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfy thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord execute righteousness and judgement for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy, He will not always chide; nether will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pity his children so the Lord pity them that fear him. For he know our frame, he remember that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourish. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The Lord had prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom rule over all. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, harken unto the voice of his word, Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts, ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure, Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion; bless the Lord, O my soul.” (Psalm 103 AKJV)
We cannot really determine the state of David’s mind when he wrote this psalm, whether at the high points of his life; or at the lowest time. He took his dismay, distress and grieve of the state of his mind and that of the nation of Israel of which he is king over, as usual in prayer. He changed to high praise of God for his many blessings and that of the nation Israel. We must not allow the negatives in our lives and the nation to overshadow our positive experiences. Let us continue to focus on the good things God has done in our lives, in our families and in the nation, what He is doing now, (even though it may not be clear to many), and what he will continue to do. Let us not focus on our worries, concerns of our lives and nation; over certain family issue or our sadness over losses. When we reflect on the good things, then the positive things will start to outshine all the negative we are experiencing. We will be surprise what this can do in our lives and nation.
God’s love and concerns for us is unconditional, but He shows special concern for those who honour him as God. While we were yet sinners, God gave up His Son Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world. His sacrifice was a lasting atonement for the sins of the world. God remembers us in our low esteem and remembers we are but dust (v. 14). Our life span is so short that the psalmist compared it with the short span of a flower in its bloom and of grass. When the wind blows on it, it is gone, and its place will not know it again. We are so fragile but God’s love and care towards us is eternal.
Unfortunately, we always look at God only as the Judge and Lawgiver, so we lose sight of His compassion and loving kindness towards all. Remembering God’s faithfulness towards us and our nation is vital to building a strong faith as we walk with Him. We are to daily testify to his goodness and loving kindness to us and our nation to others. Today, we base our acceptance of others on achievements, fame and riches, but not so with God. God accepts us as we are, with our foolishness, our weaknesses and our flaws. He is aware of our struggles every day to please Him.
In conclusion, our weakness, foolishness, fragile conditions should not be used as God’s justification of our sin. It should not be used as an excuse to be far away from God. God’s mercy is encompassing. He is our loving, compassionate and faithful God. We are all special in His sight.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
Thank you, Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ and for the precious blood shed on the cross for our salvation, in Jesus name.
Thank you for always causing us to triumph in Christ Jesus.
Thank you for your greatness, power, glory, majesty, splendour and righteousness, in Jesus name.
Father, thank you over my life, my family, and our nation, in Jesus name.
Father, let the power of the cross and of the Holy Spirit be released to dethrone the power of the flesh in the church, in Jesus name.
Father Lord, completely frustrate the desires, plans, devices and the expectation of the enemy over our nation, in Jesus name.
Commentaires