Benefits

Forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.
(Psalm 103:3, 4)

Psalm 103 is absolutely amazing...Throughout this entire Psalm David does not petition once, this Psalm is all about the Lord and praising Him. Petitions are not bad in prayer, however it is important to see that above all else worship is the first thing we should offer the Lord. When our lives are lives of worship through good and bad times we add and build to the beautiful testimony and hope in Jesus Christ. The "Thanksgiving" Psalms are Psalms that call Israel to worship, they are Psalms that call us to worship, a call to all the nations to worship. They have a very evangelistic tone because God is a missionary God, He is always reaching out, He is not an isolationist. The heart of the Lord is Psalm 34:3, "Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together". When we live lives of worship, we are evangelising.

Something so beautiful about the Gospel is the freedom that Christ offers, the freedom that He brings, and the freedom that He died for. I love in Psalm 103:3, 4 David tells himself that He will not forget the Lord's benefits and blessings. Having a thankful heart will keep our perspective on what is important and what really is life. It is human nature to miss the good and focus on the bad, we feed off of scandal. When in reality we have nothing to complain about, as followers of Jesus we have been forgiven of all our iniquities, we have been healed of all our diseases, we have been redeemed, and we have been given love and mercy. The benefits of following Jesus far outweigh anything that can happen on this earth.

We have a joyful eternity in God's presence and are saved from Hell and total separation from Love. Nothing can outweigh that.

That should spark a thankful heart and a right attitude. When we complain and criticize and are disattisfied we are not being godly, we are being selfish and saying that we deserve better and that this or that isn't good enough. I never want to be named an "ingrate" as Charles Spurgeon would say. Imagine your life without forgiveness, without healing, without love, without mercy... how miserable! Focus on all the beautiful things the Lord has already blessed you with (verses 3 & 4) and BELIEVE them, RECEIVE them. You can read them and say them... but until you receive and believe them you aren't living in the freedom of Christ. He died for you to believe and receive these benefits.

I hate to break it to you, but it's not all about you... it is about the Creator, His Son, and His Spirit. Your purpose is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. You don't deserve any benefits yet He richly supplies and extends them consistently from yesterday, today, and forever. What a beautiful Savior, what a beautiful Lord, and what a beautiful King.