I've been doing Kelly Minter's Ruth study this summer. It is a really fantastic study of this small book in the Old Testament! Even though the book is only 4 chapters long, it is jammed pack with great biblical truth and application for everyday life. It is definitely on my recommendation list!
But that's not really why I'm writing today. It has been a looooooooooooong time since my last blog, and today I just feel compelled to share with you (by you, I mean all of the 2 people that actually read my blog and that is even being pretty generous)....okay, I feel so very compelled to share Psalm 103 with the blog world today. It has absolutely captivated me! Here is what I wrote in my journal about these 22 verses:
Psalm 103 - Absolutely enamoring when I think about the depths of God's unfailing love, forgiveness...His capacity, willingness, and ability to show me grace and mercy. He knows who I really am, He knows what I'm made of (mostly not good things). Yet he chooses to forgive me of all unrighteousness. Even when I deliberately go out of my way to sin.
So here it is...Psalm 103. Praying it will captivate your heart and open your heart to truly understand how wide, how deep and how far reaching the love of Christ is for you, beloved.
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,
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 accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins (Hallelujah!!), nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love towards 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 (or he knows how we are formed), he remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children,
To those who keep his covenant, and remember to do his commandments.
The LORD established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, O you angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!
Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!
Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
