Bless the LORD, O my Soul!

"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 forgives 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"
(Psalm 103:1-5)

God is truly worthy of praise. From the depths of our being we should be filled with praise for the great things that He has done and continues to do for us.

He forgives our iniquity. He knows all about every single sin that we've committed, or even thought about committing. Yet He chooses to forgive every single one of them. Not just the small ones. Not just the big ones. Not just the ones for which we've pled for forgiveness. Not just the ones that others know about, but we've kept hidden. He forgives them all.

He heals all our diseases. The human body is amazing. Doctors and medicine can do amazing things. But the fact that a doctor can prescribe an antibiotic depends on a God who maintains the universe. Otherwise, there would be no pattern for the doctor to follow; no system to let the doctor know what to expect. Sometimes God heals through miracles. Sometimes God heals by promoting the person to heaven, where there is no pain or sickness.

He redeems our lives from the pit. Many people think they've got their lives all together. Or at least they give the appearance that they do. Yet they are spending their resources looking for something. Something that satisfies. Something that takes away the pain. Something that makes them happy. They don't realize that they are in a pit. Only God will set them free from that pit, set their feet on solid ground and satisfy them.

He crowns us with steadfast love and mercy. Little kids often pretend to be a king or a princess and wear a crown. It's a symbol of importance and power. It makes us feel good. Imagine wearing a crown of love and mercy, instead of power. Love and mercy from God controlling your life, giving you purpose, overflowing into your entire being.

He satisfies us with good. Gluttony, pornography, greed, envy, alcohol and drug abuse. All of these and more are common in our circles. Bitterness, selfishness, pride, arrogance, prejudice. All of these are just as common. And they all reflect dissatisfaction. We are not satisfied, not content. So we look for others and other things to fill the emptiness. Only God can satisfy us with good things. Good things that will not be harmful to ourselves or others.

Look through that list again. All those needs of the soul can be met in God. And when those needs are met, our deepest burdens are lifted and we can be renewed like an eagle.