Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget 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 as long as you live, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:2-5
Isn’t that a wonderful description of God? He forgives, he heals, he redeems, he crowns, and he satisfies. How good it feels to know we have such a Father. We can go to him with anything.
These qualities listed in Psalm 103 declare God’s abilities while also implying our needs. Our iniquities need forgiven. Our lives would slip into a pit of God didn’t rescue us and pull us out. We’d have no sense of our value if God didn’t crown us. Our lives would fill with chaos and cruelty if he didn’t anchor us in steadfast love and mercy. We’d never develop the taste for heavenly delicacies if God didn’t first prove himself satisfying. The energy and strength of our souls would waste away if God wasn’t there to sustain us over and over again.
In this season of Lent, we have the great privilege and honor to spend time with our Heavenly Father making these divine exchanges. If your life harbors sin, confess it to him. He will replace it with forgiveness. If you are sick and struggling with your health, surrender it to him and he will heal you. If you’ve slipped into a pit of despair, discouragement, or shame, call out to him and he will redeem you. If your life is filling up with chaos or mistreatment, stand before the throne and await your new identity. If you’ve looked everywhere and tried everything in your search for contentment, release those desires to the Lord and let him fill those places with good things.
Lent is a time of change. This season is a grace allowed to us for healing, redemption, and forgiveness. Take the step of faith today to give to the Father that one struggle or that great pain that weighs you down and hinders your ability to get ahead. The Lord may have allowed it into your life for just this kind of a moment. He wants you to see what he can give. He wants you to understand how much greater are his resources and love than your needs and limitations. Call out to him. Stand before him. He’s waiting for you.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I take the step of faith today to let you see into a deeper corner of my heart. I stand in need of your forgiveness, your healing, and your redemption. Help me to receive these things from you. Amen.
