The Lord is Active (Psalm 103:1-10)

The Everyday Blessings of the LORD

Psalm 103 is one of the most cherished scriptures in the book of Psalms, and for good reason. Whenever I read it, I can’t help but marvel at the writer’s choice of words. They are all active words, meaning presently ongoing. This is intentionally inspired by the Holy Spirit to paint for us an accurate picture of God as one who is active- not only in the past but in the present.

Forgives all your iniquity (v3)

Heals all your diseases (v3)

Redeems your life from the pit (v4)

Crowns you with steadfast love and mercy (v4)

Satisfies you with good (v5)

Renews your youth like the eagle’s (v5)

Executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed v6

Is merciful and gracious v8

A Personal God

When David thinks about God, he can’t help but remember His nature as expressed actively in his own life. His praise stems from a deep, personal experience. In his writings, God is not a distant, cosmic entity but a present and intimate being.

This idea of a personal God is central throughout Scripture. For instance;

Abraham: A Vision of Promise On a starry night, God gives Abraham a vision of an everlasting covenant, promising blessings, descendants, and a great nation.

Moses: The Burning Bush Encounter God calls Moses through a burning bush, commissioning him to deliver Israel from slavery.

Jacob: Dream Encounter of Identity Transformation Jacob dreams of a ladder connecting heaven and earth, an experience that brings a shift in his destiny.

Hagar: Angelic Visitation of Provision in Hopelessness God sends an angel to Hagar in the wilderness to rekindle hope in her despair, promising blessings for her son.

Samuel: A Divine Call to Purpose God calls young Samuel in the night, marking the beginning of his prophetic ministry.

Elijah: Gentle Whisper of Restoration After a dramatic series of events that leave Elijah depressed and ready to die God speaks to Elijah in a gentle whisper, renewing his strength.

Mary: Angelic Announcement of Divine Favor The angel Gabriel visits Mary, declaring she will bear the Savior, a message of favor and purpose.

God is seen as a God of personal encounters. He was not just a distant God that the nation of Israel worshiped but a God whose presence was felt personally by the people, including foreigners.

In 2 Kings 5: 1-27, we read of how Naaman, a commander from the foreign nation of Aram who had been afflicted with leprosy all his life, has such a personal encounter with God and receives healing. His response was to bless the Lord. Naaman was in no way a believer in the Most High God until his healing. In his case, he experiences the powerful, personal touch of God. Something that he doesn’t just know about but feels. He becomes more than a believer; he becomes an evangelist and declares his allegiance to the true God.

This Psalm reminds us that God is more than a supernatural being. He is an intimate, loving person whom we meet daily at an individual level.

We read of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Because of these men’s encounters and intimate relationships with God, we can make them a reference point when speaking of the Lord Almighty.

God still seeks personal, intimate relationships today, and He can also be referred to as the God of (Insert your name).

Experiencing personal encounters with God begins with acknowledging His existence and believing He is able to do what He says. Would you like us to pray with you to receive Him?

The Lord is Active in Your Life

Reflecting on my own life, I realize that for years I believed in God but didn’t truly feel His presence shaping my daily actions. Like many, I went through the motions without a deep connection and conviction.

Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I never doubted the existence of God. I just accepted that God was real, that Jesus performed miracles, and that attending church was part of life. I went to church every Sunday because our parents told us to and pray simply because it was the norm in our house and the majority of our community culture. I truly thought of myself as a believer, yet my belief didn’t profoundly shape my actions or make me different from the non-believers.

I went to church, said prayers, and still lived like the world did. That was until everything changed. I had a personal encounter with God through a miraculous healing of an illness that had baffled doctors and defied all medical explanations.

That may have been my experience, but God encounters us each day in similarly inspiring ways. Like David in Psalm 103:1-10, we can call to memory what God has done in our lives when we think about Him.

The Lord is active in your life even today. Consider the benefits David mentions in Psalm 103:1-10 again through the lens of the Spirit.

Forgives all your iniquity (v3)– the greatest blessing you have from the Lord is not material things but the assurance that your sins are forgiven and you have been made right with God. From this standpoint, you live free from fear, guilt, and shame. Most importantly, you can feel His presence with you daily.

Heals all your diseases (v3)– Surely you can count the times you have been sick and got well. Many have fallen ill and never recovered.

Redeems your life from destruction (v4)– how many people have met an untimely end to their lives, but you are still here because the Lord preserves your life daily? How many dangers have you been spared, even unknowingly?

Satisfies you with good (v5)– you have life, a family, food, and you are not sick. Reflect on the good things in your life and recognize them as gifts from God. Hasn’t God been good?

He has not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities (v10)– this is a big one. When you look at your life, how would it look if God dealt with you according to the wrongs you do every day? Are there ways God has been good to you? Call them to memory and praise Him for them.