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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 chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward 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; 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 has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, O you his 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!

Father in Heaven, Lord of all, what an amazing thing that you incline your ear to hear me when I come before you in prayer. Thank you, Father.

Father, my Father, many times I am more prone to listen and to pay attention to all the voices inside my heart, inside my head, to all the doubts, the confusion, the plans, the joys, the sorrows, the worries, the lists, the longings, the times. Help me, help me, to quiet those voices, to speak to my soul and say,

“Bless the Lord, O my soul….”

Father, what if…

Instead of worrying, I would not forget all your benefits…
Instead of the guilt of my sin, I would remember how you have forgiven all my iniquities…
Instead of lamenting of all my weakness, physical and spiritual, I would remember that you heal the brokenhearted…
Instead of crying in the pit as if there were no hope, I would lift my eyes to my Redeemer who lives…
Instead of wearing a cloak of self-pity, I would remember how you crown me with steadfast love and mercy…
Instead of being satisfied with what the world offers, I would be satisfied in you…
Instead of worrying about the times, the seasons, I would remember that you renew my strength like the eagle’s…

Help me, Lord. Help me to preach the gospel to myself, every day, every hour.  To see your righteousness, to remember the way you have dealt with your people. How you have always shown yourself merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Oh, Lord, when the enemy comes and tries to place the heavy burden of guilt on my shoulders, help me speak to my soul and say, “Remember, remember, your God, O my soul, He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities…”

Father, let me lift my eyes to the heavens above the earth and be reminded of your steadfast love toward those who fear you. That I may never forget how far you have removed my transgressions from me. How you deal with me full of compassion, always remembering my frame, that I am but dust.

Lord, one day I will not be here, but You always remain. I pray for my children and my children’s children. Lord, make yourself known to them. Know their names and call them unto you. I pray that in your steadfast love will draw them unto you. That they will fear your name and be established.O Father, that they will fear you, keep your covenant and remember your commandments.

My King, my Lord, let me rest today in the fact that you reign sovereignly. How amazing it is to now that your kingdom rules over all. Over all. Over all.

How can I not bless you, Oh Father? Let my voice join today the one of the angels and the saints in praises to you.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Amen.

Becky

Praying the Psalms