Psalm 103:1-5
Bless the Lord, O my soul. All that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—who pardons all your guilt, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with mercy and compassion, who satisfies your life with goodness, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We praise you for all you have done for us; Lord, you removed our sin and guilt forever. However, I often go about my day and fail to remember to be thankful for all you have done for me; instead, I complain. Where do we begin? How do I change my ways? Perhaps, by remembering what you have done for all of us. Before we were born, we were conceived in sin, and because of our sins, we were your enemy. Our sins drove us from you because you are a holy and perfect God, and evil cannot remain in your presence; there was nothing we could do to change our status. We cannot make up today for what we did yesterday or say well, at least I am better than those people who are horrible sinners—we are still sinners—nor can we ignore our bad parts and declare ourselves as good.
We should have been eternally doomed to hell for each sin—cast away from you forever, but instead, you stepped in to restore us. You sent Jesus to be our brother; he lived perfectly in our place, then died an innocent death for our sins that we have eternal life. Our gift now is the promise of everlasting life and salvation from our sins. Jesus pardoned all our sins, so on the last day—when we breathe our last here on earth—our next moment will be in heaven. We will be restored to perfect health there, with no more disease, tears, or pains. All because you redeemed—bought us—from death; heaven is ours not because of anything we have done, but for Jesus’s sake.
Please send your Spirit that every part of my being will sincerely bless your holy name today, and as we glorify your name before others so that they will come to know your love and mercy. May your Holy Spirit use the good news we share with them, beginning their faith in Jesus. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
When you know and remember how you began life and know the tremendous price God paid to set you free from sin—his one and only Son; what other reaction can you have but to praise God for the blessing he has given you? Forgiveness and salvation are yours by faith in Christ.