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. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

Praise is a determination of the soul. It is not always the outflowing of a feeling. When I think of all that God has blessed me with, the biggest blessing is forgiveness of my sins and payment for their debt.

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” He has an inexhaustible love and his forgiveness is infinite in capacity!

For those who fear him, God has compassion! He works righteousness and justice for the oppressed. Will I choose to trust God to provide for me? Will I give him my “justice issues”, and trust him to merit justice out on those who have hurt me?

The answers to these two questions will determine the mental pathways I take in life. Do I choose to let God guide me and work in me his good gifts and better ways? Or will I take the reigns of life because I “know better” than God?

When I feel worn down and oppressed in life, I need only to focus on and remember all of the great things God has given me. Some are listed here: 1) He forgives my sins, 2) he heals my diseases, 3) he redeems me from the holes and pits I end up in due to my sin, 4) and he showers me with his love and compassion!

Lord, I will focus on you, be guided by your hand, and trust in your promises. Nothing on this planet can harm me, you are bigger and stronger! Thank you for calling me your child!