Introduction

Good morning, beloved family in Christ. It is always a joy to be gathered together in the presence of our Lord, isn't it? We are here today, not by coincidence, but by divine appointment. We are here because we have been called by God, pulled by His love, and drawn by His grace. And in this gathering, we are not just individuals, but a collective body, a family, bound together by the blood of Christ. And what a privilege it is, to be part of this family, to be part of God's grand narrative. We are here to worship, to learn, to grow, and to encourage one another.

Today, we are going to immerse ourselves in the beautiful Psalm 103:2, which says,

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

This verse is a powerful reminder for us to remember and acknowledge the goodness of our God. It is a call to praise, a call to remember, and a call to gratitude.

In the words of the revered preacher Charles Spurgeon, "Memory is very treacherous about the best things; by a strange perversity engendered by the fall, it treasures up the refuse of the past and permits priceless treasures to lie neglected, it is the very treasure house of choice recollections." So, it is our duty, our calling, to remember, to not forget all His benefits.

Praise is not just a word, it is not just a song, it is a lifestyle. It is a state of the heart. It is an attitude. It is a choice. Praise is acknowledging who God is and what He has done. It is recognizing His sovereignty, His power, His love, His grace, His mercy, and His goodness. Praise is giving God the glory that He deserves.

So, today, we are going to focus on three main points: Pondering our Praise, Presenting our Praise, and Perpetuating our Praise. Each of these points will help us understand the importance of praise, the way to praise, and the impact of praise.

Let us pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for Your love, for Your grace, and for Your mercy. We thank You for the privilege of gathering together in Your name. We pray that You would open our hearts and minds to Your Word today. Help us to understand the importance of praise, to learn how to praise You, and to see the impact of our praise. We pray that our praise would be pleasing to You, that it would be a sweet fragrance to You. We pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Let’s get started!

Pondering Our Praise

When we consider the act of praising God, we are drawn into a deeper understanding of who He is and who we are in relation to Him. Praise isn't merely an act of worship, it's a recognition of our place in the universe. We are the created, He is the Creator. We are finite, He is infinite. We are flawed, He is perfect. In this recognition, there is a humility that forms the foundation of our praise. We praise Him not because He needs it, but because we need it. We need to be reminded of His greatness and our dependence on Him.

Praise brings us into a closer relationship with God: When we praise Him, we are not just acknowledging His greatness, we are also acknowledging His goodness towards us. We are acknowledging that He is not just a distant, impersonal force, but a loving, caring Father who is intimately involved in our lives. This realization deepens our love for Him and strengthens our relationship with Him.

Praise has a transformative effect on us: When we praise God, we are aligning our hearts and minds with His. We are choosing to focus on His goodness and greatness rather than on our problems and worries. This shift in focus changes our perspective and helps us to see our circumstances in a new light. It fills us with hope and peace, even in the midst of trials and tribulations.

Praise serves as a powerful testimony to others: When we praise God, we are declaring His goodness and greatness to those around us. We are showing them that there is a God who loves them and cares for them, a God who is worthy of their trust and devotion. This can be a powerful witness to those who do not yet know Him.

The psalmist calls us to "forget not all his benefits:" This is a call to remember and acknowledge all the good things that God has done for us. It's easy to forget these things, especially when we are going through difficult times. But the psalmist reminds us to keep these things in mind, to remember them and to praise God for them.

God's benefits are many and varied: They include His love, His grace, His mercy, His provision, His protection, and His guidance, to name just a few. Each of these benefits is a reason to praise Him. Each of these benefits is a testament to His goodness and greatness.

These benefits are not just one-off events: They’re ongoing realities in our lives. God's love, grace, mercy, provision, protection, and guidance are not just things that He provided in the past, but things that He continues to provide every day. This ongoing provision is another reason to praise Him.

Praise God with our souls: This is a call to praise God with our whole being, with all that we are. It's not just about saying the right words or singing the right songs, it's about a deep, heartfelt expression of love and gratitude towards God. This kind of praise is the most pleasing to God and the most beneficial to us.

Presenting Our Praise

As we continue to unpack the richness of Psalm 103:2, we find ourselves at the heart of the matter ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO