God-Given Benefits

Most people go through their day always thinking about what needs to happen next, “I have to get to work. I have to finish this report. I need to eat lunch. I need to work on a project.” And when we’re home, the list continues, “ I need to cook dinner, then clean, then go to the gym, then shower, etc.” Of course the list will look different for each individual, but you get the idea. We can get so caught up in all that needs to be done that we often take so much for granted, including the ability to do them! But the truth is, we have so much to be thankful for on a daily basis. God is worthy of our praise for all the blessings he makes available to us each day. We just need to make the conscious effort to remember what they are and give him the credit he deserves.

In Psalm 103:1-2, King David extols God by saying, “ Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” And just what are the benefits he is referring to? The succeeding verses reveal them as:

1. Forgiveness

God is rich in mercy, slow to anger, and abounding in love (Psalm 145:8,9). He offers forgiveness for our infirmities, and removes our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). The bible tells us that he doesn’t repay us back as we deserve, and remembers our sins no more! Isn’t it comforting to know your sins have been completely erased from God’s memory? Once you ask him for forgiveness, it’s as if it never happened. You don’t have to relive them in your mind or allow others to condemn you with the past. In Lamentations, it says that God’s mercies are new every morning. You can wake up with a clean slate! If it weren’t for the blood of Jesus purifying us every day, we wouldn’t be free to have an abundant life on earth much less an eternal life in heaven.

2. Healing

In this verse (3), King David is referring to the healing of diseases.There are many diseases taking the lives of people all over the world, with heart disease and cancer being the most prevalent in the U.S.While I don’t know why the outcome is sometimes fatal, God’s word tells us that He is capable of healing any and all diseases.I personally know several cancer survivors that stood on God’s promises and boldly declared their healing throughout their treatments. Psalm 34:20 says, "The Lord is able to sustain you upon your sickbed and restore you back to health." By his stripes, you are healed (Isaiah 53:5)!

3. Redemption

In the scriptures, redemption refers to the atoning act of Jesus taking all of our sins to the cross so that we are rescued from them. Other definitions include the idea of making something or someone better. So not only does God lift us out of the pit; he also sets our feet upon the rock and gives us a firm place to stand (Psalm 40:2). He tells us that the righteous will never be shaken (Psalm 112:6). And that though you may stumble, he won’t let you fall (Psalm 37:24). His redeeming plan is to pull you out… and keep you out!

4. Crowning

In Psalm 103:5, King David states that another one of your benefits is that God “will crown you with love and compassion.” When I think of a crown, I think of royalty; don’t you? A crown is something worn with honor amongst the highly privileged. In fact, the most valuable crown in history, the Tudor crown, dates back to the 1600’s and is worth over a million dollars today! What’s beautiful about this verse is that I believe it reveals how God esteems the worth of love and compassion amongst his people. These attributes are of tremendous value to him and are therefore bestowed with honor! Furthermore, a crown is worn on the head for all to see, even from a good distance. It clearly distinguishes a person’s identity. In the same way, I believe our Heavenly Father wants the godly traits of love and compassion to be evident to all; to stand out and reveal who his children are.

5. Satisfaction

Have you ever been really hungry but only had a snack to eat? Instead of suppressing your appetite, sometimes it actually increases the desire for more food! It’s not until you finally sit down and devour a full meal that you feel satisfied. Fortunately, God is not a snack giver. It’s not in his nature to leave you only half full. No, he wants to fully “satisfy your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:5). He knows that when you’ve been filled to your heart’s content you will be strengthened and energized. That’s the kind of satisfaction he wants to give you in every area of your life.

It takes faith to claim these benefits for yourself, but they are definitely yours for the taking! Start praising God today for the blessings he has promised. He will be faithful to fulfill them!

MOVE. MEASURE. MARCH.

March On!

Letty Roy