Prayers All

By Melissa McLaughlin

Have you ever felt at a loss for words when praying? You are not alone. I’ve been there, too.

Stress, sickness, or sometimes even the busyness of life can scatter our thoughts or distract our spirits when we pray.

During moments in life when my prayers felt like water washing through a sieve, leaving me empty-hearted, God led me to the Psalms. As I read and prayed from the Psalms out loud, the Holy Spirit infused God’s Word into my words, and my prayers took on deeper meaning and fresh power.

While reading Psalm 103 recently, the beauty of this Scripture stirred my soul again. I pray God refreshes your heart as you read this passage, too.

Praise and Thank God

In the first section of Psalm 103, the writer, David, exhorts us to bless the Lord with our whole being. The word “bless” here means to praise or thank God with great affection and adoration. May we throw off all half-hearted, lethargic, or lukewarm responses to God in our worship.

When we turn our minds to the great things God has done—forgiven our sins, healed us, lifted us from the pit, crowned us with love and mercy, renewed our strength like the eagle—our hearts should soar above all earthly disappointments. In Christ Jesus, God transforms us from sin-stained and hopeless to treasured possessions fit for heaven’s splendor.

Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV)

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.

God’s Attributes and Fatherly Compassion

Next, we contemplate God’s wonderful attributes—His justice, righteousness, mercy, grace, forgiveness, compassion, and Fatherly tenderheartedness toward us. A father understands when his small child behaves foolishly or falls in weakness. The parent reaches for and lifts the child back up. He offers correction, wisdom, and encouragement. This human father’s heart comes from our Heavenly Father’s heart, who knows we are but dust, formed by His hand.

Psalm 103:6-14 (ESV)

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.

Eternal Life and Love in Christ

The third section of this Psalm reminds us that our lives are fleeting. Even our greatest accomplishments are soon forgotten on the timeline of eternity. Yet, for those who trust in the Lord Jesus, God adopts us into His eternal kingdom family. We go from finite dust to imperishable children of the heavenly King. Loved with an everlasting love.

Psalm 103:15-29 (ESV)

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.

Join the Worship of Heaven

The last portion of this Psalm contrasts humanity’s frailty in the previous section with the magnificence of God’s throne room, where celestial beings obey His word and do His will. All God’s works, in His vast dominion, declare His glory.

And so, in the ending line of Psalm 103, we join our voices with heaven and earth, saying, “Bless the Lord, O my soul!”

Psalm 103:20-22 (ESV)

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!

 

I invite you to pray through the entire Psalm 103 out loud. Let God’s Word and Spirit speak through your voice today as you pray. Let’s use more than our minds. Let’s engage our voices and whole beings to declare the wonders of His majesty, mercy, and incredible love.

Is there a favorite Psalm you use for prayer?

P.S. Are you looking for a gift to give that offers eternal value? Check out my award-winning book, The Whole Bible Devotional: Seeing Jesus in Every Book of the Bible. It comes with a free downloadable Small Group Study Guide. Makes a great book for small groups, individual or home study, or Sunday School classes. Available at Amazon and other major retailers.