Forget not all his benefits
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.”Psalm 103:2-3
Reflection
Psalm 103 begins with David talking to his own soul: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." It is interesting that he must give this command to himself. The soul, left to itself, tends to forget. We forget what God did when the trial comes, we forget yesterday's answers in front of today's need. That is why it is necessary to preach inward: "soul, remember". Gratitude is, in large part, a matter of cultivated memory.
And what is there to remember? David gives two examples that sum up everything we most need. First: "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities". Total forgiveness, without a list of exceptions. The weight that crushes us most is guilt, and God lifts it completely. Second: "who healeth all thy diseases". God is the God who heals: the body, the emotions, the hidden wounds, the diseases of the soul. Both benefits cover every area: nothing that requires forgiveness or healing is beyond His reach. And note the "all", repeated twice: God's generosity is not partial.
Remembering God's benefits is good for the health of the soul. The memory of past faithfulness is fuel for trust in the present. When you count what God has already done, anxiety loses strength, complaint loses space and praise is born naturally. Many people live weary because they remember the lacks more than the gifts. The psalm teaches us to reverse the list: instead of taking inventory of what is missing, take inventory of what has been given.
Today, do what David did: talk to your soul. Take paper and pen and list, in as much detail as possible, the Lord's benefits in your life: forgiveness received, healings, deliverances, provisions, people, opportunities, answers to prayer. Then read it aloud, ending with praise: "Bless the LORD, O my soul". Repeat this exercise from time to time. A soul that remembers God's benefits is a soul that has learned to trust.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for all Your benefits: for the forgiveness You gave me, for the healing You work and for everything You have done for me. May my soul never forget. Teach me to remember, to give thanks and to praise You, especially on days when difficulty tries to erase the memory of Your faithfulness. Amen.
Put it into practice
Make a list today of at least ten of the Lord's benefits in your life. Then read it aloud, thanking God for each one, and end by saying: "Bless the LORD, O my soul".
To reflect on
Which of God's benefits has your soul been forgetting, and what changes when you begin to remember them?
Bible text: King James Version (public domain).