There’s an old story about a grandfather who kept a small wooden box on the corner of his desk. Whenever his grandchildren visited, they would ask, “Grandpa, what’s in the box?”
He would smile, open the box slowly, and inside were dozens of slips of paper. On each paper, in his careful handwriting, he had written down something God had done for him. Some were big things, like, “God saved me in 1954” or “God healed my wife.” The rest were everyday mercies: “Strength for a hard week,” “ A kind word from a friend,” or Daily bread for the table.”
Grandpa kept the box because, as he used to say, “The heart forgets too quickly, and God is too good to forget.”
As the years went on and his memory began to fade, the box became even more precious to him. On hard days, he would open it and rad a handful of slips, and his eyes would fill with tears. It wasn’t that the trials disappeared; it was that the remembrance of God’s mercies restored his joy.
One day his grandson asked him, “Grandpa, why do you keep that box?” The old man patted the top of it and said, “Because I want my soul to bless the Lord, even when my mind struggles to remember.
We must train our hearts to bless the Lord by remembering the countless benefits He has shown us! Let’s study how the Psalmist David practiced 3 steps on the pathway to praising God in Psalm 103.
Praise Begins in the Heart
“Bless the LORD, O my soul”
This is a call to God-centered (“Bless the LORD”), intentional (“forget not”), internal (“O my soul”) worship that springs from wholehearted gratitude on a personal level. Genuine worship is NOT simple ritual! Genuine worship springs from the heart that remembers God’s mercy. It is important to understand this is a personal call to praise God during a time when corporate worship at the temple was also practiced. Private devotion and corporate worship were and still are undeniably connected. So, nurturing and protecting a heart of thanksgiving will fuel uplifting corporate worship!
Praise Remembers God’s Benefits
“Forget not all His benefits”
We cannot forget that God led Israel to place a high priority on remembering. This priority brought about festivals, stories, psalms, and feasts that would rehearse the works of God. David is reminding himself to remember the saving works of God so that his faith does not drift.
A married couple who was “chronically advanced” started having problems remembering everyday things. Their doctor told them to start writing things down and assured them it was a normal occurrence for those in their age group. That night while they were watching a favorite old movie together, the husband asked his wife if she wanted some ice cream.
She excitedly said yes with this caution, “You better right down…remember what the doctor said today.”
The husband started moving to the kitchen while his wife heard him complaining out loud, “I don’t need to write anything down…that crazy doctor telling me what to do…I was the vice-president of a major company before he was even born!” And with that, he turned the corner to walk into their kitchen.
The husband had been gone for about 10 minutes getting their ice cream out of the freezer. His wife called from the living room, “Are you okay? Do you need help?”
His response was confident and reassuring, “Nope! I am coming!” He walked back into the living room with two plates of scrambled eggs and toast.” His wife shook her head and said, “See, I told you that you should have written it down, dear. You forgot the bacon!”
When was the last time you wrote down God’s daily mercies for you? David gives us a good reminder list in Psalm 103.
Saturate Your Mind with God’s Daily Mercies!
1. He forgives our sin (103:3)
2. He heals our diseases (103:4)
3. He redeems our life from destruction. This is deeply connected to Israel’s Exodus from Egypt years ago and emphasizes their safety is through covenant relationship and not through military strength! (103:4)
4. He surrounds us with lovingkindness, compassion, and faithfulness. This concept of “crowns us” is connected to the ancient concept of honor. So, instead of earthly crowns, the faithful people of God are honored with God’s covenant love. (103:4)
5. He satisfies us with good things (103:5)
6. He renews our strength (103:5)
7. He actively works for the good of His people (103:6)
8. His patience, grace, and compassion greet us every morning (103:8)
9. He gives mercy again and again, instead of judgment (103:10)
10. His mercy is immeasurable and constant (103:11)
11. Every day we live forgiven, not condemned (103:12)
12. He shows tender, fatherly compassion in every season of life (103:13)
13. He knows our limitations, frailty, and weaknesses…and meets us with gentle care (103:14)
14. His kindness and love never run out (103:17)
Praise Rests in God’s Character
“He forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, satisfies.”
Israel lived in a world full of false gods. They were gods the culture would claim could control sickness, crops, storms, and even fertility. David’s claim in Psalm 103 is countercultural at its very core! David attributes healing, forgiveness, and blessing to one God…to Yahweh, not to idols or superstitions!
We are quick to train our hearts and minds to remember favorite recipes, statistics for the professional sports team we cheer for, and all the practices and procedures we deal with for work. However, how disciplined are our hearts and minds to remember God’s daily mercies?
Train your heart to bless the Lord by remembering the countless benefits He has shown you!