Devotionals

---

“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.” – Psalm 103:1-2 (NKJV)

When faced with life’s challenges, we sometimes may have a propensity to brood on the negativity and wallow in pointless anxiety and gloom. Thank goodness that such a choice does not guarantee liberation anyway! When emotions are welling up on the inside and the heart seems so troubled it could implode, how do we find relief at such times? The persona of David gives us an insight into a delightful outlet.

David’s life was not always “rainbows and roses” from his days as the shepherd boy in the plains, to his reign as king over Israel. The bible tells us that the Lord delivers us from all our afflictions (Psalm 34:19). In all this, one remarkable attribute was constant throughout David’s life – he acknowledged the Lord’s favor upon him and delighted immensely in His loving kindness. It is no surprise that God regarded David as a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22). Like he demonstrated in the popular Psalms 23 and 103, David always reveled in a consciousness of God’s presence and resolutely declared His mercies, even in perilous times. This was his recipe to a victorious life altogether. In his youth, when faced with a nerve-racking giant whom none of his superiors dared to confront, what did he do? He boldly testified of his God-given victories as a shepherd and was confident that the encounter wouldn’t be any different from previous ones (1 Samuel 17:34-51). He boasted in the Lord and the mighty Goliath was brought down with just a sling.

In his boyhood, David was perhaps not entirely privileged to have had the best which the era had to offer boys his age. He was the last of his kin and practicably wasn’t regarded as one who was destined for prominence (or one who would bear a famous title as “giant slayer” or “king of Israel” for that matter). He was often in the wild tending sheep (while his peers may have been acquiring some formal education or signing up for the military). Despite all this, his personality does not strike us as a depressed, desolate or timid kid. He spent quality time relishing on God’s goodness by playing his harp and composing the psalms we read today. David found such joy and serenity in his duty as a shepherd, that he wrote breathtaking songs about it. In this, God was preparing him to be king.

As king, there were times he was faced with challenges, distress and grief, but he strengthened himself in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6). He remained steadfast and diligent in his declaration of God’s goodness.
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” – Psalms 34:1-4.

Today, God’s loving kindness has been poured out on all of His children in Christ Jesus. David recounts the benefits of God’s goodness in our lives (Psalm 103:3-5).
1. He forgives all your iniquities
2. He heals all your diseases
3. He redeems your life from destruction
4. He crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies
5. He satisfies your mouth with good things
6. He renews your youth like the eagle’s
7. He executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

Even in testing times, we are assured He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalms 46:1). God’s loving kindness endures forever and that is not about to change. So, instead of brooding on the fears of today or the worries of tomorrow, why not take a cue from the shepherd king who had a special place in the Lord’s heart and reminisce on God’s goodness? And don’t stop there, declare His faithfulness with the words of your mouth (Psalm 89:1).

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE AS A MEMBER OR VISITOR