Devotional: Bless the Lord, O My Soul

Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. -Psalm 103:2-5

One of my all-time favorite hymns is “To God Be the Glory.” It is a beautiful song of gratitude that exalts God for the great things He has done and for the priceless gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, through whom redemption came to humanity. My heart is always filled with joy whenever I hear it.

Yet, while we love to sing and dance to praise songs, thanksgiving can still be difficult for many Christians. More often, we spend time presenting our needs to God in prayer rather than pausing to express gratitude for His goodness and kindness toward us. This is partly because human needs are insatiable, as economists might say. There is always something we do not yet have, something we are trusting God for, either for ourselves or for others, which can easily cloud our vision and keep us from recognizing what we already possess. In this way, we may find ourselves hindered from offering God the thanksgiving He deserves.

In Psalm 103, David responds differently. He calls his entire being into worship, not limiting gratitude to his lips alone. In verses 2-5, he commands himself not to forget all the benefits of the Lord. This reminder reveals an important truth: it is easy to forget what God has done. David therefore chooses intentional remembrance. He deliberately rehearses the goodness of God to himself, going on in the following verses to list specific blessings one by one.

David's intentional listing of God’s benefits reveals the depth of his gratitude and his refusal to take God’s kindness for granted. He engages his whole being in praise, showing us that true thanksgiving is not passive, it is deliberate, thoughtful, and deeply personal.

We are already in the midpoint of the year, and it is a good time to pause and reflect on the journey so far. As we take some time to ponder, we will be surprised how merciful God has been to us and how much we have to be thankful for. No matter what has gone wrong or what is still unresolved or what we are yet to receive, there is always evidence of God’s goodness in our lives. We are sustained by grace, and for that alone, we have enough reason to give thanks always.

Prayer:
Father, thank You for Your Word. Please give me a heart of gratitude. Help me to always recognize Your goodness and mercies towards me, and offer You the thanksgiving You deserve, in Jesus’ name, Amen.