Tag Archives: psalm 103

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — More Than Enough

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Our Daily Bread

Psalm 103:1-11

[The Lord] crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. —Psalm 103:4

When I entertained a large group in my home, I feared that the menu I planned wouldn’t be enough to serve all the guests. I shouldn’t have worried though. Several friends unexpectedly brought additional items and all of us were able to enjoy the surprise surplus. We had more than enough and were able to share out of the abundance.

We serve a God of abundance who is consistently “more than enough.” We can see God’s generous nature in the way He loves His children.

In Psalm 103, David lists the many benefits our Father bestows on us. Verse 4 says that He redeems our life from destruction and crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies.

The apostle Paul reminds us that God “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing” and “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 1:3; 3:20).

Because of His great love, we are called children of God (1 John 3:1), and His grace gives us “sufficiency in all things” that we “may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8).

God’s love and grace, spilled over into our lives, enables us to share them with others. The God of power and provision is always the God of “more than enough”! —Cindy Hess Kasper

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;

To His feet your tribute bring.

Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,

Evermore His praises sing. —Lyte

We always have enough when God is our supply.

Bible in a year: Daniel 3-4; 1 John 5

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Youthfulness Isn’t about Age

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Charles Stanley

Psalm 103:1-5

When Abraham was 99 years old, God promised him that his wife would have a son the following year. The Bible records Sarah’s response to the news: “Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, ‘After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?’” (Gen. 18:12 niv). Her skeptical laughter indicated that she didn’t expect the Lord to keep His promise.

The following year when the Lord’s promise was fulfilled in the birth of Isaac, Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me” (21:6 niv). This time, her laughter was the joyous kind that comes from seeing the Lord is at work and keeping His word.

Can’t you just picture the difference in her countenance on those two occasions? The first time, Sarah’s face must have looked old, weary, disappointed, and etched with unbelief. But later on, when she beheld her new son, her face must have been transformed—still covered in wrinkles, no doubt, but now with eyes sparkling, cheeks glowing, and mouth curled in a smile. Sarah had become young at heart. Not only was she transformed, but those nearby must have joined in her infectious laughter.

What was true of Sarah can be true of us: Burdens feel lighter and the world seems a gentler place when we see God working in our midst. And if we watch for Him, we will find reasons to smile. Chronological age doesn’t determine youthfulness; heart attitude does.

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – All Things New

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17

One of the most beautiful promises in all of Scripture is Revelation 21:4: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

One day all pain will be gone. All sorrow will be gone. All mourning will be gone. That is the promise from God. There will be no more physical or emotional pain—no pain from a broken body or a broken heart, no more broken marriages, and no more broken lives. Why? Because God will make all things new.

But even today God can make your life new. Maybe you have made some mistakes in life and have done things you regret. Maybe you are trapped in a cycle of sin right now that you don’t feel you can ever break free from. Here is the promise of God to you: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

What old things have passed away? Your old sins. God not only forgives them, but He also forgets them. He promises in Psalm 103:12 that “as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

You change when you truly follow Jesus. Old values, ideas, plans, loves, desires, and beliefs vanish, and they are replaced by new things. You have a new desire to know God and learn more about Him and a new desire to be led by the Holy Spirit and be used by God. You have a new desire to bring glory to God—and yes, even a new desire to one day see God in heaven.

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — What’s Love?

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Our Daily Bread

Psalm 103:1-14

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son. —1 John 4:10

When asked “What’s love?” children have some great answers. Noelle, age 7, said, “Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day.” Rebecca, who is 8, answered, “Since my grandmother got arthritis, she can’t bend over and polish her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even after his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.” Jessica, also 8, concluded, “You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.”

Sometimes we need reminding that God loves us. We focus on the difficulties of life and wonder, Where’s the love? But if we pause and consider all that God has done for us, we remember how much we are loved by God, who is love (1 John 4:8-10).

Psalm 103 lists the “benefits” God showers on us in love: He forgives our sin (v.3), satisfies us with good things (v.5), and executes righteousness and justice (v.6). He is slow to anger and abounds in mercy (v.8). He doesn’t deal with us as our sins deserve (v.10) and has removed our sin as far as the east is from the west (v.12). He has not forgotten us!

What’s love? God is love, and He’s pouring out that love on you and me. —Anne Cetas

Our God is God—

His truth, His love remains each day the same,

He’s faithful to His matchless name,

For God is God—He does not change. —D. DeHaan

The death of Christ is the measure of God’s love for you.

Bible in a year: Psalms 49-50; Romans 1

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Proclaiming the Excellencies of God

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John MacArthur

“That you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9).

The privilege of proclaiming the excellencies of God takes us back to 1 Peter 2:9, but we consider it here because it summarizes the purpose of all our Christian privileges.

The Greek word translated “proclaim” is an unusual word used only here in the New Testament. It means “to advertise” or “publish,” and refers to making something known that would otherwise be unknown. “Excellencies” speak of powerful and heroic deeds. You are an ambassador of Christ, having the great privilege of proclaiming what God has done for His people.

That was an intrinsic part of Hebrew worship. For example, Psalm 103 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit; who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle. The Lord performs righteous deeds, and judgments for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness” (vv. 2-8).

It would be an honor to be an ambassador of the United States, representing this country’s power and capabilities to other countries. But you have an even greater honor: to represent the power and capabilities of the living God. When you have an opportunity to speak for Him, you can rightly say, “I have the privilege of announcing the mighty and heroic deeds of the living God, who has called me into His service.”

Because you are in Christ, you have glorious privileges that include union with God, access to the Father, spiritual sacrifices, security, affection, dominion, possession, holiness, illumination, and compassion. What greater honor can there be than to proclaim the excellencies of the One who has granted you such marvelous privileges?

Suggestions for Prayer:

Thank God for calling you as His ambassador.

Ask Him for the courage and integrity to represent Him well always.

For Further Study:

Read Psalm 147, noting all the mighty deeds of God there proclaimed.

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – The Sacrifice of Praise

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John MacArthur

“Offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5).

“Praise the Lord” is a common expression today. Some see it as a catchy slogan, others commercialize it, still others reduce it to nothing more than “P.T.L.” But despite such attempts to trivialize it, praising the Lord remains the believer’s expression of love and gratitude to a God who has been abundantly gracious to him. That was the cry of David’s heart when he said, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Ps. 34:1-3). That will be the song of believers for time and eternity!

God desires and deserves your praise. That’s why Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through [Christ] . . . let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” But what is praise? Is it merely saying “praise the Lord” over and over again, or is there more to it?

Two aspects of praise are obvious in Scripture. First is reciting God’s attributes. That was the typical means of praise in the Old Testament. For example, Psalm 104 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, Thou art very great; Thou art clothed with splendor and majesty, covering Thyself with light as with a cloak” (vv. 1-2).

The second aspect of praise is reciting God’s works. Psalm 107:21-22 says, “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His works with joyful singing.”

Praise involves reciting God’s attributes from a heart of love, giving Him honor and reverence for who He is. It also involves reciting what He has done on behalf of His people. Your praise should follow the same pattern so it will be an acceptable spiritual sacrifice to your loving God.

Suggestions for Prayer:

Read Psalm 103 as a prayer of praise to God.

For Further Study:

Scripture mentions other spiritual sacrifices that believers should offer. Read Romans 15:16, Ephesians 5:2, Philippians 4:10-18, Hebrews 13:16, and Revelation 8:3, noting what those sacrifices are.

Alistair Begg

Alistair Begg – God’s Hand in Your Life

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Alistair Begg

Forget not all his benefits.  Psalm 103:2

It is a delightful and profitable occupation to mark the hand of God in the lives of ancient saints and to observe His goodness in delivering them, His mercy in pardoning them, and His faithfulness in keeping His covenant with them. But would it not be even more interesting and profitable for us to observe the hand of God in our own lives? Should we not look upon our own history as being at least as full of God, as full of His goodness and of His truth, as much a proof of His faithfulness and veracity as the lives of any of the saints who have gone before?

We do our Lord an injustice when we suppose that He performed all His mighty acts and showed Himself strong for those in the early time but does not perform wonders or lay bare His arm for the saints who are now upon the earth. Let us review our own lives. Surely in these we may discover some happy incidents, refreshing to ourselves and glorifying to our God. Have you had no deliverances? Have you passed through no rivers, supported by the divine presence? Have you walked through no fires unharmed? Have you had no manifestations? Have you had no choice favors? The God who gave Solomon the desire of his heart, has He never listened to you and answered your requests? That God of lavish bounty of whom David sang, “who satisfies you with good,”1 has He never filled you up to overflowing? Have you never been made to lie down in green pastures? Have you never been led by the still waters?

Surely the goodness of God has been the same to us as to the saints of old. Let us, then, weave His mercies into a song. Let us take the pure gold of thankfulness and the jewels of praise and make them into another crown for the head of Jesus. Let our souls produce music as sweet and as exhilarating as came from David’s harp while we praise the Lord whose mercy endures forever.

1 – Psalm 103:5

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Presidential Prayer Team; J.R. – Highway of Death

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Highway 80 is a six-lane road that runs through the desert between Iraq and Kuwait. When notorious dictator Saddam Hussein decided to invade Kuwait in August 1990, it was a perfect thoroughfare for his rampaging armies. They met little resistance and the trip must have seemed like little more than a vacation. But a few months later when coalition forces arrived to liberate Kuwait, Highway 80 became the focal point of a desperate retreat and utter carnage, as thousands of Iraqis fled the overwhelming forces pursuing them. Highway 80 became forever known as the “Highway of Death.”

In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death. Proverbs 12:28

Do your plans for today have you on a path of righteousness…or some other road? The easiest and broadest path may seem right for the moment, but it could be the Highway of Death. How can you know the way to go? First, set aside your own ideas about what is right and be open to whatever path God chooses for you. Then spend time studying His Word, the Bible, allowing it to penetrate your thoughts. Finally, pray and ask God for wisdom.

Those who do these things – individuals, nations and leaders – will receive His divine directions…and life.

Recommended Reading: Psalm 103:6-18

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Joyce Meyer – God’s School of Wisdom

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I have taught you in the way of skillful and godly Wisdom [which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God]. Proverbs 4:11

True Christianity goes far beyond mere doctrine. We certainly need to know the principles of our faith in the form of doctrine, but real love for God is so much more than a set of basic beliefs; it is also a way of daily, practical living that comes from understanding the ways and purposes of God.

When we approach everyday situations from the perspective of God’s ways and purposes, we ask questions such as: “How would Jesus talk to that person?” “How would Jesus deal with that person’s obvious need? When we begin to think along these lines, we are learning to be wise because we are seeking to understand the ways and purposes of God.

Moses was a very wise man, one who understood the importance of knowing God’s ways. In Exodus 33:13, he cried out to God: “. . . if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You…”  God answered Moses’ prayer, as we read in Psalm 103:7: “He made known His ways  . . . to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.”

Notice the distinction between what God made known to Moses (His ways) and what He made known to the children of Israel (His acts). Some people are only interested in God’s acts—what He will do for them. But wise people are like Moses; they hunger for a deep understanding of His ways. Let me encourage you to cry out to God as Moses did.

Love God Today: Ask God to show you His ways and help you understand His purposes.

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Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Praise Brings Blessings

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“Go through His open gates with great thanksgiving; enter His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and His faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation” (Psalm 100:4.5).

I would like to suggest several reasons why I believe praising God is so important in the life of the believer.

First, God is truly worthy of praise. He is worthy of praise because of who He is and because of all He has done for us. The psalmist reminds us, “Praise the Lord! Yes, really praise Him! I will praise Him as long as I live, yes, even with my dying breath” (Psalm 146:1,2).

We praise God for who He is and for His attributes – His love, His sovereignty, His wisdom, His power, His greatness, goodness and compassion, His faithfulness, His holiness and His eternal, unchanging nature.

These and other characteristics of God are described in many passages. Three of my favorites are Isaiah 40, Psalm 139 and Psalms 145-150.

Second, we praise God for His benefits to us. Though too numerous to mention, some of them are expressed in Psalm 103.

No wonder the psalmist concluded this list of great benefits by calling upon all who read this passage, “Let everything everywhere bless [praise] Him too!”

Yes, we are to praise God first of all because of who He is, and then we are to praise Him for His blessings to us. We should never take for granted the benefits we enjoy as a result of belonging to Him.

Bible Reading: Psalm 103:1-8

TODAY’S ACTION POINT:  Praise toward God throughout the day will be on my lips as I recall His many attributes and all His benefits to me.

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Presidential Prayer Team; H.R. – Custom Designed

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Billions of years ago, all the energy and matter of the universe were crammed together into a big ball. Then there was an explosion that caused the creation of the planets, stars and galaxies. It is known as the Big Bang theory – and people believe it’s true. However, it seems to take great faith to believe an explosion, which always causes only chaos and destruction, created perfect order and intricate design in the universe.

I know your works. Revelation 3:8

As a Christian, you can be reassured that the great, loving mind of God designed not only the planets and stars…but also your mind and body. God knows how you were formed, even to the detail of every hair on your head! Just as He knew the hearts of every person in the churches spoken to in Revelation, Jesus knows every thought, frustration, joy, strength and weakness. Psalm 103:14 says, “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”

As your creator, God custom designed you for a unique purpose. Spend time reading the Bible and talking to Him every day. As you learn more about His attributes, you will learn more about yourself. Pray also that Americans and the nation’s leaders acknowledge God’s character as they make personal and professional decisions.

Recommended Reading: Psalm 37:23-34