psalm 103, revisited

“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, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  

the Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.  he made known his ways to moses, his acts to the people of Israel.  the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  he will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.  he does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.  for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.  as a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.  for he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

as for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more, but the steadfast love of the lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.  the Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.  bless the Lord, o you his angels, the mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!  

bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!  bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion, bless the Lord, o my soul!” -103rd Psalm

Daddy, i know that you have blessings to pour on me throughout my life; you have already forgiven me of my endless iniquity and redeemed my life from the pit.  i doubt not your steadfast love.  

now, when i feel my life is once again on the brink of the pit, help me remember that i am finite; i have come from dust and and while you breathe life into me i am made to stand, but i will not stand forever.  neither will my pain.  

for a moment i feel my iniquity cling to me with death’s grip.  i know that you remove it as far from me as the poles of the earth are from each other.  i am weak and easily tempted, but i strive to keep your covenant; help me in my struggle.  

i don’t have the right words, but i will bless your name with all that is in me until the day i die.  you are my savior, my father, my mother, my lover, my friend.  you meet all of my needs in every way, and save me from the pain.