Thursday, September 20, 2018
Psalm 103:1-2 Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits.
O GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD!
Do you talk to yourself? Some say it's a good idea -- depending on how you do it. It certainly is a good idea to follow King David's positive example in this regard in Psalm 103.
I'm told that if a person talks to oneself in a negative way it can have a negative effect. I mean, if the field-goal kicker is saying to himself, "If I miss this we lose the game," aren't the chances he'll boot a poor one greater than if he's telling himself: "Focus . . . plant . . . kick it through the uprights!"
One thing is sure, it is a positive thing for heart and mind and attitude to follow David's example and talk to oneself about the innumerable benefits and blessings the triune God showers upon us, and about thanking Him with heart and soul, voice and life.
There are big events in life that cannot help but remind us to praise and thank God, things like a birthday or an anniversary. But at other times, on ordinary days (so-called), or when things have been tough, or look like they will be shortly, we may feel hardput to find something for which to give thanks to God.
It is precisely at such times that we need to remind ourselves that we are the recipients of all kinds of benefits from the hand of our gracious God. That's when we need to give ourselves the kind of "talking to" which David here gives himself.
"Forget not all his benefits." As sinful human beings we are forgetful, especially where God is concerned. We find it easier to complain than to praise. We are prone to focus on ourselves and to think on what we don't have rather than on what we do.
Yet, thinking on the benefits and blessings of God will promote thankfulness. It is no accident that the words "think" and "thank" are so similar. In English, "thank" is derived from "think." The one leads to the other. Our problem as humans, especially in this day and age, is our failure to actually turn things off and stop and think-- and then respond from the heart.
But do not despair. Our Savior-God's great specialty is the treatment of human "heart problems." In fact, right now, as you read, God the Holy Spirit is working in your heart to make what David describes a reality in your life.
