Sing the Psalms: 103

Praying Psalm 103

There are several places in my Bible where the same passage came up year after year, marked in the margins by different colored pens and ink. This ink, though just a year, is like a brand that sears a cattle’s hide. It’s ingrained in me and will never fade.

Psalm 103 is one such scripture.

It’s one that came up year after year to pray over someone most dear to me.

It’s a psalm I printed and taped to the other side of the glass door so I could pray it while showering.

It’s one I printed and taped on the bathroom wall so I could pray it while I sought after momentary privacy during the days of chasing littles and toddlers.

It’s one I put a melody to the words to so I could sing it over my dearest one.

It’s one that has branded my prayer life in many ways.

Sing the Scripture

Give it a go. See what you can do as you make this your own song today. And if your song is a crash and burn, at least you can have yourself a good laugh. Rest easy that the Lord who loves you and delights in you is the only one who will know.

And at least you can know that the lyrics were smashing. 🙂 That’s the hard bit anyways.

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

Of David.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!
² Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
³ who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
⁵ who satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all who are oppressed.
⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
    his acts to the people of Israel.
⁸ The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹ He will not always chide,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.
¹⁰ He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
¹³ As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
¹⁴ For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
¹⁶ for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more.
¹⁷ But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children’s children,
¹⁸ to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.
¹⁹ The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

²⁰ Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his word,
    obeying the voice of his word!
²¹ Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
    his ministers, who do his will!
²² Bless the Lord, all his works,
    in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Psalm 103

Selah.

And happy sabbath!