With All of Me
In Psalm 103, David speaks to his soul. He calls himself to praise the Eternal God with all of himself. It is what we all want, to praise God with all of us. So, we praise God’s holy name with David, with our bodies and emotions, with our minds and our wills, with every part of who we are.
Sing out to God. We have seen what He has done, and it is good. From a grateful heart, we sing praises to our Lord God.
But wait, I’m not perfect. I sin, I forget things, and I get lazy. God’s blessings fall on me when my soul is crushed with guilt and shame. Because, despite all the things I do wrong, God forgives me and releases me from guilt. He is better than any doctor. The Eternal One heals my diseases.
God reaches down deep into the pit where I find myself, and He delivers me from death. He crowns me with His unfailing love and compassion. He loves me. The Eternal God fills me with good and beautiful things when my soul is starved for warmth and withering away. He satisfies me and will continue to as long as I live. He makes me strong like an eagle, even restoring my youth.
I see people around me that are crushed, wronged, enslaved, raped, and murdered. I cry out in pain and sorrow. It hurts my heart. But the Eternal God is just, and He makes the wrongs right.
Lord, I Praise You
God shows me His ways and allows me to see His wonders and power. He is compassionate and merciful. Even when I cross all the lines, He is patient with me. Sometimes I find myself struggling against Him, but He lovingly stays with me. He gently prods me, convicts me, and changes me.
Wonder of all wonders, The Eternal God does not constantly criticize, even though I continually fail. He does not hold a grudge. Thank You, O Lord God, that You do not punish me for my sins and depravity as I deserve. In Your deep mercy, You temper justice with peace. Show me how to treat others in the same way.
I can measure how high heaven is above the earth. I can show the vastness of the universe. But God’s wide, loving, kind heart is greater than that. I love and revere You, Lord.
O Eternal God in Heaven, You take all my crimes, the seemingly inexhaustible sins I have done, and you remove them from me. You move them so far away. They are farther than the East is to the West.
East to the West
My earthly father loved me. He was not perfect, but he did his best. How much more do You love me with Your perfect love? You know what I am made of and how frail I am. You know I come from dust, and my body will eventually die.
But Your unfailing love, O Eternal One, always abounds to me. Your justice extends on through me and future generations. I run to You daily, Lord. You catch me in Your arms.
I keep Your bond of love, and I walk in the guidance of Your commands. Your words show me which way to go. You rule over every seen and unseen realm and creature. I bow to Your direction. Even the angels adore You, Lord. They are powerful creatures who exist to listen to You and act on Your every word.
Your army stands ready to do Your will. Lord God, I praise You. All You have made in all of creation praises You. Oh, my soul, I come to You, the Eternal God, and praise You.
1 O my soul, come, praise the Eternal with all that is in me—body, emotions, mind, and will—every part of who I am— praise His holy name.
2 O my soul, come, praise the Eternal; sing a song from a grateful heart; sing and never forget all the good He has done.
3 Despite all your many offenses, He forgives and releases you. More than any doctor, He heals your diseases.
4 He reaches deep into the pit to deliver you from death. He crowns you with unfailing love and compassion like a king.
5 When your soul is famished and withering, He fills you with good and beautiful things, satisfying you as long as you live. He makes you strong like an eagle, restoring your youth.
6 When people are crushed, wronged, enslaved, raped, murdered, the Eternal is just; He makes the wrongs right.
7 He showed Moses His ways; He allowed His people Israel to see His wonders and acts of power.
8 The Eternal is compassionate and merciful. When we cross all the lines, He is patient with us. When we struggle against Him, He lovingly stays with us—changing, convicting, prodding;
9 He will not constantly criticize, nor will He hold a grudge forever.
10 Thankfully, God does not punish us for our sins and depravity as we deserve. In His mercy, He tempers justice with peace.
11 Measure how high heaven is above the earth; God’s wide, loving, kind heart is greater for those who revere Him.
12 You see, God takes all our crimes—our seemingly inexhaustible sins—and removes them. As far as east is from the west, He removes them from us.
13 An earthly father expresses love for his children; it is no different with our heavenly Father; The Eternal shows His love for those who revere Him.
14 For He knows what we are made of; He knows our frame is frail, and He remembers we came from dust.
15 The children of Adam are like grass; their days are few; they flourish for a time like flowers in a meadow.
16 As the wind blows over the field and the bloom is gone, it doesn’t take much to blow us out of the memory of that place.
17 But the unfailing love of the Eternal is always and eternal for those who reverently run after Him. He extends His justice on and on to future generations,
18 To those who will keep His bond of love and remember to walk in the guidance of His commands.
19 The Eternal has established His throne up in the heavens. He rules over every seen and unseen realm and creature.
20 Adore Him! Give Him praise, you heavenly messengers, you powerful creatures who listen to and act on His every word.
21 Give praise to the Eternal, all armies of heaven—you servants who stand ready to do His will.
22 Give praise to the Eternal, all that He has made in all corners of His creation. O my soul, come, praise the Eternal!
Psalm 103
