Psalm 103:1-5
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
Psychologists say that we need to hear ten compliments to overcome the damage caused by one insult. Negative and hurtful things we experience stick in our minds and hearts more than positive things, and they cause lasting harm. I can remember mean words I heard as a child, and I can remember how those words made me feel. Among all the innumerable experiences and conversations I have had in nearly 50 years of life, certain bad ones float to the top of my memory every now and then. I’m sure I’m not alone in this. Those hurtful moments will always take up some space in our hearts, but we can push back against them and flush away their sting by focusing instead on the good, joyful, hopeful things of life, especially the blessings and love of God.
David’s psalm of praise invites us to recall God’s many blessings. Even during hard moments or on sorrowful days, we can choose to remember God’s love and provision for us. David made a commitment that we should also take to heart: “May I never forget the good things he does for me.” It’s easy to let the bad stuff overshadow the good stuff. It’s easy to let our hearts dwell in dark places and on painful memories. But we can choose to recall and rejoice in the good things God gives. David chose to remember, as he wrote these lines, how God forgave his sins and healed him from illness. He could also remember how God gave him victory over the giant Goliath. He could rejoice in the blessing of children, family and friends. Remembering God’s goodness renewed David’s strength so his heart could soar like an eagle.
It will do your heart good to count your blessings today. Think about answered prayers and moments of restoration. Remember good days of health and happiness. Fill your heart with joyful memories of family, faith and peace. At the same time, don’t let the hurts and losses you have experienced put down roots of bitterness into your heart. Those bad memories will remain with you, but you can choose not to let them dominate your mind and heart. Instead, overcome them with the good things of God as you rehearse again all the ways He has blessed you.
Thank You, Lord, for the many good things You give me. Help me to remember the blessings and love You bring into my life. With my whole heart, I praise Your holy name because You are good. May You continue to show me grace, through Jesus my Savior. Amen.
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Pastor Mike Mirakian
