Psalm 103:1-2 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
Depending upon the version you are reading, you may see the wording as bless the Lord rather than praise the Lord. Most translations say bless. But the literal translation of the original language means to praise with strong affection. It is more than just praise. It is honor, reverence, appreciation, and adoration. That means David was drawing from everything within him to praise the Lord. It is a deep felt praise of the mind, soul, spirit, etc.
How affectionate are you in your praise? Are you simply praising half heartedly, politely participating in the praise and worship in your church? Or are you praising Him with every fiber of your being? (Matthew 22:36-37) Do you FEEL the praises you are engaging in? Or are you going through the motions?
Our God is truly worthy of deep, intimate praise from us. He is holy, set apart, completely and entirely free of sin. He is so holy that Moses had to remove his shoes when he approached the burning bush (Exodus 3:5). God’s holiness was so great that the very ground around His presence was made holy and demanded respect and reverence.
And with your praise, remember all His benefits – the good things He has done for us and continues to bless us with. This includes His love, His mercy and grace, His forgiveness of our sins, and His provisions. He gives us so much, so many things we take for granted. Never forget these benefits. Remember all He has done and continues to do and praise His holy name.
If you are still not clear on the benefits, take a few minutes to read through the whole psalm. Then set aside anything except what is good and thank Him. Praise Him for all He is and does, our holy, loving, giving God.
Be the first to comment