PRAISE THE LORD

FORGET NOT HIS BENEFITS

Read Psalm 102–103

      But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children. Psalm 103:17

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      In Psalm 102 David pours out his heart in anguish, sick and fearful for his life–but in Psalm 103 David praises God for all of the benefits to his soul. He has been healed from his sickness, with his youth renewed. The LORD, he says, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. …He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. (103:8, 10) 

      David would never forget the love and mercy extended to him by his compassionate Heavenly Father. He praises God that “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (103:12)

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      Dear Heavenly Father, I too, want to praise you for all Your benefits. You have satisfied my desire with good things and put a new song in my mouth. Like David I can say, Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. (103:1) May I reflect, in my countenance and attitude this day, that I am a thankful woman in my inmost being.

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      Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD: Psalm 102:18 NIV

SETTING BOUNDARIES

IN MY HOUSE
Read Psalm 101

     I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing. Psalm 101:2b–3

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     David determined in his heart that he would avoid the evil influences that were all around him. He could not control the perverse wickedness he saw as he walked through the land, but he could choose to focus on the deeds of godly faithful people. He could also set boundaries on what he allowed in his own house. If he did not set these limits, he knew that the evil would cling to his own mind and heart.

     Christians today have even more difficulty in setting boundaries. The unlimited evil coming into our lives every day by television and internet has the power to destroy us. It takes determined discipline to control those influences. Sometimes the lies are very subtle and our children may not be able to distinguish between truth and error. The Psalmist says, “No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.” (Psalm 101:7)

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     Lord, convict us when we allow evil men and women to indoctrinate our children by way of television. Help us to avoid those images on the internet that would cling to our own minds and hearts, drawing us away from You. Help us to replace those evil influences by cultivating fellowship with faithful Christian friends.

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     My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me.   Psalm 101:6 NIV