The Benefits of God - Psalm 103

This is another of my favourite psalms, especially the first five verses, which list the benefits of God. 

Verses 1-5 are quite short so it is good to memorize, as it is a very handy prayer to pray as you go about everyday life. Of course you can always pray using your own words, but there's power in quoting God's Word, too, and sometimes when you are in the midst of your emotions, it can be hard to express yourself.

Pray these words under your breath whenever you are feeling down, want to pray for healing, long life, protection, or when you just want to worship God!  

Psalm 103:1-5

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

I believe in the truth of the Bible (see previous post The Bible - the basis for everything) so when I read these verses, I believe them. Literally.

The benefits of God we are entitled to as Christians:

• God heals ALL your iniquities - your sins have ALL been forgiven (due to Jesus' work on the cross);
  
• God heals ALL your diseases - the question of Will God heal me? is answered!
  
• God redeems your life from destruction - this includes an early death. God will save you from your life being destroyed by destructive habits, behaviour, drugs, alcohol, etc.
  
• God crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies (self-explanatory)
  
• God satifies your mouth with good things and renews your youth.
  

Psalm 103 Praying Tips:

Here are some tips when praying Psalm 103:1-5 that I find helps me. I visualise each line as I pray it. This helps the words become a lot more meaningful and real to me as well.

When you are saying, "all that is within me, bless His holy name!", feel your entire body, all your limbs and organs praising God... 

When you pray the words, "who heals all your diseases", imagine your body in perfect health, or imagine God immediately healing the parts that are troubling you at that moment, and visualise them healthy...

If you are walking in a dangerous area or you suddenly have a fearful thought like - what if a car appears and hits me? - recite "who redeems your life from destruction" and visualise yourself protected and walking past without anything happening.

When you say, "your youth is renewed like the eagles', imagine your whole body regenerating and youthful!




Psalm 91 - A Psalm of Protection

When you experience moments of fear, it is hard to stop being afraid by just telling yourself to stop. You need something more powerful to help you overcome your fear, and that power is prayer. Psalm 91, a prayer of protection, is a very good prayer for such situations.

I love this Psalm. It is comforting and powerful and bold. Most of the Psalm describes what you are protected from by dwelling in God's shadow - protection against disease, terrors in the night, destruction in the day, illness in your house, etc. I love the vivid imagery of verse 7 - a thousand people, ten thousand people may be dropping around you like flies, but you will not be affected! 

The last part of the Psalm (verses 14-16) is the most beautiful, though. The viewpoint shifts from a 3rd person point of view, to God's point of view. God promises to answer when you call, deliver you from trouble, satisfy you with long life and show you His salvation. I quote this part often, especially if some sudden fear enters my head about an early death. 

Next time you are fearful, or as a daily routine, try reading this Psalm, and as you read, believe in God's promises to you! He doesn't lie.

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”