Who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
(ESV)
This morning I would like to thank my Lord Jesus by praising Him with Psalm 103. As I sit down to thank the Lord for His goodness, my soul is overwhelming with a joy of thankfulness. I do not have the words to begin praising Him. I do not think humanity can ever have enough words to thank God for His love, for His justice, and for all the great works He has done.
The reality is that many of us idolize Thanksgiving Day and fall into the trap that this is the only day to be thankful for. God is worthy to be praise and to be thanked every hour of every day. While Thanksgiving may remind many of us to reflect on the things we could be thankful for, remember God is worthy to be praise and thanked, by each and every one of us.
This Psalm expresses the heart of a person whose soul has realized God’s perfection, compassion, forgiveness, and goodness. If you are reading this blog, as you read the Psalm think of something you can thank the Lord for, because his goodness is all around you. One thing from this Psalm I known to be true is all of us have received countless blessings from the Lord. He has healed many of us from our diseases and forgiven our sins whether seen or unseen.
This Psalm reminds me that Jesus is the only one who gives real satisfaction. Let not our hearts forget all the benefits of the Lord. This is often man’s tendency to forget. Remember the Lord’s goodness will bring you to praise Him. Forgetfulness tends to make us cold to the realization of His compassion, and we fail to thank Him as much we ought. Like the nine lepers from the ten, Jesus heals many of us, but we do not return to thank and praise Him (Luke 17:11-19). God still loves you and is willing to be welcomed by your praise. If the Lord were to accuse or remain angry forever against us, none of us would be here today; therefore, praise Him for His goodness. His love is unending. In verses 11-14, this is how great the Lord loves His children. This should be great news for any us who feel unworthy to approach Him as a Father. He is unlike any other father. For those of us who have tasted the Lord’s goodness, we know it is incomparable. We have much to be thankful for.
I am so thankful for the Lord’s blessing this year. Although I had many challenges that came my ways this year, the Lord’s blessing and His peace still surpassed them all. Jesus gives us a peace that the world is unable to comprehend. In spite of all my challenges, I am thankful. The Lord is worthy to praise and worthy of our thanks and beyond. I will say it again; the Lord is worthy to be praise.
My father was one of the greatest fathers I have ever known. For years I prayed that the Lord would bring life to his soul. A month before he passed away, the Lord brought life to his soul, and He took Him home to be in a better place. It is hard because I did not get a chance to experience my father’s faith after his conversion on a personal level. He suffered with the Leukemia for about 14 years before he died. I thank God so much that in spite of my father’s poor health, God allowed him to live that long and to give him a better life and a better home. Oh, how joyful will it be when I meet him again! As Job says, I will say, “God gives and he takes away, may his name be praise”(V). I am confident I will see him again.
I also thank God for the Moody Bible Institute. It is such privilege to be here. I am thankful for all my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am thankful for the great family God gives me. They are amazing people in my life, and they are good to me. I am thankful for all my supporters who care and pray for me.
I am thankful for the ministries God has given me, especially Mighty Grace Ministries. For years I prayed asking God how He can use a broken vessel like me for Haiti, particularly for my village, Lagrange! I can go on and on about things I can be thankful for, both the blessings and the disappointments. I learned to find God’s love through it all. “For I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” (Philippians 4:11). Therefore, brothers and sisters thank God in every season whether it be good or bad. His goodness never fails. He is worthy to be praised. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).