Praise the Lord, my soul;    
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:1-5

It’s Monday morning. What better way to start your week than taking the advice of the Psalmist in Psalm 103 and praising the Lord, reminding yourself of his goodness and the endless benefits that he gives those who are in Christ? The Psalmist tells us of these:

The Benefits

He forgives all your sins

It all starts here. The benefits of our heavenly Father to his beloved are grounded in the fact that he has covered and forgiven every one of your failures and sins in and through the work of his Son. Every one – past, present, and future. No other God, no other religion, starts in such a beautifully freeing place. He forgives all your sins. 

He heals all your diseases

Are you sick? Have you been praying for healing for yourself or for someone close to you for weeks or even years as they’ve struggled with sickness? Let your faith take hold of this promise and hold God to it.  The Gospels are replete with stories of how Jesus heals sickness after sickness, going so far as to say that Jesus healed everyone who came to him in some cities. The uncomfortable reality that not all are healed in this life isn’t what we’re here to deal with – we’re here to remember all the benefits of the Lord and praise him for them. He is the one who heals diseases. 

He redeems your life from the pit

Your sins have been forgiven and you have, as Paul put it in Ephesians, been seated with Christ in heavenly places. Hell has no room for you any longer. If you have put your faith in Christ your life has been redeemed from the pit and your eternity it settled and secure. 

He crowns you with love

God’s love for you isn’t something hidden or quiet or subtle. It’s a crown placed on your head, declaring the reality that you are now royalty – a son or daughter adopted into the family of the King of the universe. As the writer of Hebrews puts it, “He [Jesus] is not ashamed to call them brothers” (Heb. 2:11b). Don’t set aside the crown of love that your Father has given you. Wear it and revel in it. 

He crowns you with compassion

A few verses later in Hebrews we read that Jesus became human so that, “he might become a merciful and faithful high priest”. (Heb 2:17b) God has crowned you with compassion. He’s not a hard-edged, stern father. He’s a compassionate, gentle Lord who intentionally put himself in your shoes so that he could empathize with every one of your struggles.  He is kind and compassionate to you, settling that kindness and compassion on you as a crown in the same way he has with his love. Feel the comforting weight of that compassion this morning and praise him for it. 

He satisfies your desires with good things

Jesus told people that his Father was a good Father, giving good gifts to his children. Take this to heart – every one of your desires will be satisfied with good things. Good things. That may mean you don’t get the thing you thought you desired because He knows it won’t be good. But your desires, in God’s good and gracious timing, will be satisfied. 

He renews your youth

This isn’t a promise that you’ll stay 23 forever. Instead, as God satisfies our desires with good things and we humbly receive the massive weight of all his benefits, our soul will stay replete with the energy and joy of youth. As you remember God and all his benefits it will wash away cynicism and a critical mindset. You’ll find yourself entering into the child-like spirit that Jesus says is essential for receiving the Kingdom of God. 

Praise the Lord, my soul

Don’t forget the benefits God’s given you, my friend. If your faith is in Jesus all of this and more is yours. After all, “no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ“ (1 Cor 1:20). What can we do in response but praise the Lord?  

Take time this morning, or better yet every morning, to remind yourself of the benefits that are yours in the Lord. Then watch your soul do exactly as the Psalmist says and overflow with praise.