“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the Lord O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

David’s fervent prayer — Let me not forget all you have done for me, forgiveness, healing, redemption.

Our fervent prayer – Let me not forget all that Christ has done for me on the Cross, the forgiveness of my sins, healing eternal, redemption through His blood.

David also reminded himself of another benefit in Psalm 103:4b, “[God] crowns you with love and compassion.” Love and compassion. Repeatedly through the Gospels, it is said of Jesus that He had compassion on the lost. And love … what love!

Perhaps my favorite words from the cross are the words Jesus spoke to the criminal crucified beside Him. When the thief rebuked the third man being crucified that afternoon and then asked Jesus to simply “remember me when you come to your kingdom,” Christ’s response causes my heart to soar every time I contemplate it. “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

Scholars and different denominations debate about what Jesus meant when He used the word “today.” They debate if he was talking about that literal day, or if there is a time of sleep and then a time when all awake together. Personally, I think they are all missing the point. The point is found in the words, “you will be with me.”

The thief had done nothing, yet the love and compassion of Christ, even during His own suffering for the sins of all mankind, focused on one individual and reassured Him that though he had done nothing to deserve it, he would be with Christ.

Praise the Lord O my soul … forget not all his benefits … He crowns me with love and compassion.