Psalms 103:1-8 NIV
“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”
INSIGHT
-David understood that true worship was something deeply inward, of the soul. It is not just about outward forms or expressions, but he worshipped had to be more than superficial; it had to be offered as completely as possible. He wanted everything within to praise God. Thanksgiving cannot be sincere and hearty, unless a man bear impressed upon his mind, at the time, a quick sense of benefits received. One of the great benefits mentioned in is the forgiveness of all our sins. When the magnitude of our sin and the righteousness of God are understood delivering us from eternal death, this forgiveness is a staggering reason for praising and honoring God. Our Lord calls us to give thanks to Him all the time and reference the benefits He has bestowed unto us.
PRAYER
We thank You dear Lord Jesus for You are Good and Your mercies endures forever. Thank You Lord Jesus for the gift of life and the far that You have brought us. Your word reminds us that a live dog is better off than a dead lion, so we have hope in You dear Lord Jesus. We give thanks to You Lord for You have provided for us, protected us, sustained us, comforted us, guided us, journeyed with us and supplied all our needs according to Your unending love. Thank You dear Lord Jesus for You have forgiven us all our sins and You remember them no more. May You have mercy on us Lord and cleanse us from all unrighteousness by Your precious blood. Thank You for the plans that You have for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. We thank You dear Lord Jesus and honor You. May You grant us rest from all our anxieties and tribulations. May You grant us Your sure peace our Prince of peace. May You open the flood gates and rain upon us, our families, businesses, jobs, economy, nation and all the nations of the world. May Your peace Father that surpasses all understanding guard our hearts and minds always in You Christ Jesus. Amen
Further Reading: 1 Chronicles 16:32-34
Psalms 32:11 NKJV
“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”
INSIGHT
-A grateful testimony of joy for God’s gift of forgiveness towards those who with integrity confess their sins and are receptive to God’s rule in their lives. The Psalm is a dialogue between David and God in the presence of worshippers at the sanctuary. It acknowledges the power of Jesus Christ through the forgiveness of sins and deliverance from the chains of the enemy. Romans 6:4-7 reminds us that as Christ died and resurrected to set us free from eternal condemnation, we were buried with Him through baptism into death and we will be raised by the glory of the Father. We are called to forgive other people when they trespass against so that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can forgive our trespasses too. We are also called to walk in newness of life and forget the former things for God is doing a new thing in our lives. We therefore need to always give thanks to God and rejoice in Him always.
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus, we praise You, exalt You and magnify Your name for You are great. We praise You with all our hearts and we tell of Your greatness and marvelous works. We rejoice in Your name and are glad in You oh Lord. We shall sing a new song unto You oh Lord most High. Thank You for redeeming us and adopting us as Your children in Your kingdom. Thank You for we are no longer slaves, but we are heirs in Your Kingdom through Christ. Thank You Lord for the gift of salvation upon us which is Your wondrous doing and it is great. Thank You for Your precious Holy Spirit that we are able to call You, Abba, Father! Today Lord we pray that You will forgive us for the many times we have complained and not given thanks to You. We pray that You shall give us a heart of thanksgiving and forgiveness towards those who offend us. We pray that You will teach us Your ways and take over all our matters. We trust in You for those who trust in You will never be put to shame. We thank You for You are doing a new thing in our lives, families, ministries, nation and the entire world, may You help us to forget the former things. We thank You and honor You for who You are to us Lord. We pray this believing and trusting in Your mighty Name, Amen.
Further Reading: Isaiah 43:18-21, Galatians 4:4-7
Psalms 28:6-9 NIV
“Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.”
INSIGHT
-The Psalmist joyfully gives thanks to God and in confidence for the Lord hears and answers prayers. A sure conviction that the Lord saves from time to time as circumstances require and blesses day to day to make our lives and labors fruitful. Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. The Lord answered his prayers and he became the father of many nations through faith and obedience to God. Therefore the one who believes in God who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, God credits to him righteousness (Romans 4:3-24), and receives his inheritance.
PRAYER
Lord You are our Strength and Shield, the Rock of our salvation, we trust in You and give You praise. All our hope and trust is in You Lord Jesus. Lord You are our Fortress and Deliverer, our Rock, in whom we take refuge and honor Your name. You are our Shield and the Horn of our salvation, our Stronghold the one we adore and glorify. May You protect us and our families from evil and destruction by the enemy. May You grant us peace in our nation and shield us from evil fashioned to kill, steal and destroy. May Your will be done in our nation as it is in heaven. May You shield us from diseases, accidents, incidences and premature death. Lord You are our Good Shepherd there is nothing we shall lack. Thank You dear Lord Jesus for laying Your life for us. May You guide us and lead us in the way that we should go. May You rod and staff comfort us. May Your goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives and we shall dwell in Your house forever and ever. May You answer all our requests and hearts desires for You are Faithful and Merciful. Amen
Further Reading: Matthew 7:7, Psalms 23:1-6
Jeremiah 10:12-13 NIV
“But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.”
INSIGHT
-God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it and this is an awesome wonder that requires our praise. These are proofs and testaments of God’s mighty power, and so of His deity; and consequently, that He only ought to be worshipped. Jeremiah sensitizes the people of the need to abandon their foreign gods made by human hands, imaginations and ideologies. In Jeremiah 2:11-13, he asks, has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols? Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,” declares the Lord. “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” There is therefore need to repent as a nation and a people for every sin and idolatry committed causing dire consequences and distress.
PRAYER
The earth is Yours Lord and everything in it, the world and all who live in it for You founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Father You are highly exulted for You reign forever. We give thanks to You and magnify Your holy name. Lord You made the earth, You formed it and established it by Your mighty power and outstretched arm, Father You reign upon the heavens and the earth, may Your name be exulted forever. Dear Lord Jesus, we come to Your throne of grace with confidence that we may find mercy and grace to help us during our time of need. This is our time of need may You help us. May You forgive us for every sin and iniquity committed in our nation and household and cleanse us with Your precious blood dear Jesus. May You help our country Kenya and keep us safe from bloodshed and harm. May You save us from corruption, embezzlement of funds, idolatry, poor governance, and all evil and heal our land. May Your wisdom and righteousness reign in our homes and our nation. We call to You loving Savior for help knowing that You will never leave us nor forsake and You will answer us and tell us great and unsearchable things we do not know. Thank You Father for loving us and choosing us. We acknowledge that only You are God and none can compare to You. In all the heaven and the earth, only You are worthy to be praised and exulted. We pray this believing and trusting in Jesus mighty name. Amen
Further Reading: Psalms 24:1-10, Jeremiah 33:1-3
Colossians 3:15-17 NIV
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
INSIGHT
-Thankfulness to God for His enduring love for us and His sacrifice on the cross for our sins is inevitable for every Christian. This is expressed through songs of praise either or meditated upon. The gospel of truth also gives us peace in every situation as we believe and enjoy God’s promises in our lives. Christ releases His peace in our hearts and minds, that none can fathom it’s nature, design and influence within us.
SUMMARY
Thanks in Hebrew is written as Todah which is an expression of gratitude. Giving thanks ahead of time is the biggest sign of faith. Belief in the work of Jesus Christ and plan of salvation for all mankind and an expression in His faithfulness to fulfill His promises. Psalms 103:1-8 reveals that, we are called to praise and worship God in our soul and all our inner most being. To praise the Lord and not forget all His benefits, that include; forgiving all our sins, healing all our diseases, redeeming our lives from the pit, crowning us with love and compassion and satisfying our desires with good things. Psalms 28:6-9 reminds us to praise God and exult Him for He is our Strength and Shield and we trust in Him. Jeremiah 10:12-13 calls us to thank the Lord for He made the earth by His power and founded the world by His wisdom, and He deserves all our praise. 1 Thessalonians 5:18, submits that we should give thanks to God in all circumstances; for this is His will for us in Christ Jesus.
PRAYER
Dear Almighty Father we adore You and magnify Your holy name. We exalt You for there is none like You. Dear Lord we thank You and honor You for all You have done. We thank You for taking up our sins on the cross for us and paying the ultimate price for us. Oh Lord we thank You for the many blessings You have accorded to us. Oh Lord You have been so faithful and so loving to us. We thank You for who You are dear Lord You are our wonderful Father and Maker. Thank You Lord for all the good plans You have planned for us and for all Your promises to us. We believe and trust in You for there has never been anyone who trusted in Your name who has ever been put to shame. Dear Lord we thank You, love and honor You. Today we humbly repent for the many times we have not trusted in You enough and complained. May You forgive us and cleanse us for all our sins and iniquities in Jesus Name we pray. May You bless us and keep us. May You shine Your face towards us and be gracious unto us. May You show Your countenance unto us and give us peace. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forevermore. Amen.
Further Reading: Isaiah 12:4-5, 2 Corinthians 9:15