Make God Happy!

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.

I love these four verses. You could read them again and again. They are our Divine benefits. And they are the reason to bless the Lord. 

Notice that the Psalmist here is speaking to himself. He needs to remind himself of the benefits he has in His God. Don't we all need to do that? We need to remember the benefits so we turn our mouths toward blessing!

Notice as well, the Psalmist calls himself FULLY into worship: "all that is within me."
This is not a second-rate offering of praise! You have to push yourself fully into worship! Sadly, many Christians are improperly satisfied with letting someone else do it. This is what made David a man after God's heart. He was always calling himself into full engagement with the Lord's goodness and it always led to praise!

He calls himself to "bless the Lord" - the word "bless" means to make one happy. When we remember what God has done for us - it delights His heart and opens His hands of abundance! Perhaps the reason you're not experiencing the goodness of God is that you've grown cold and stale in regard to what He's done! Start listing the benefits He's given and see what happens!

Notice the "alls" of the Psalm: All our soul should praise Him for ALL His benefits:
- He forgives ALL iniquity. 
- He heals ALL your diseases.

Some of us don't worship because we don't feel forgiven. This is our GREATEST blessing! Sins past present and future atoned for and forgotten! "Iniquity" is not simply transgression but the guilt caused by sin. It's not just what we do, it's what we feel. If you feel shame in Christ, it does not come from Him! Romans 8:1 (ESV) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Even later the Psalmist exclaims: Psalm 103:12 (ESV) as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Some of us don't worship because we have physical ailments. It is very discouraging when your body doesn't function as it should. But your body gets healed. Either miraculously, or methodically through itself, or eventually at the resurrection. Whatever the time frame, God is the one who promised it and causes it!

Some of us don't worship because we don't realize how alive we truly are in Christ! He redeems us from the pit - the place of near or certain death. Every child of God is a walking talking redemption story - someone purchased of God and cherished by Him! You praise Him when you know He loves you enough to buy you back from the death that held you. Psalm 103:14 (ESV) For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. God knows our weakness and saves us!

The bottom line of Psalm 103 is that each of us can and must stir our hearts toward Him! He has done so much for us. Life inundates us with new deadlines, fears, and stresses. But our Father has done and will do so much for us! Bless Him, make Him happy that you know HE's good! That's the way to come into His presence and experience His joy!