Let All that I Am Praise the Lord

David was a man after God’s own heart and even though he made some pretty big mistakes in his life, he was still seeking God and trying to follow God in obedience each and every day. His hope and encouragement for each day were found in the Lord. In Psalm 103, David begins with saying, “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.” (1) Let all that I am praise the Lord. What exactly does that mean? David says “with my whole heart I will praise his holy name.” David wanted his relationship with God to be 100% real. His desire was to be totally devoted to God. Throughout the Psalm, David mentions the reasons he praised and wanted to praise God. First, he praises God for all that He had done for him. “Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things…” (2-5) Second, David praises God for His character, or for who He is. “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love, toward those who fear him, is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.” (8-13) David also takes the time to remember that his life is fleeting, but God will remain forever. David knows that he needs God more than God needs him. “For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone—as though we had never been here. But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him.” (14-17) David sought to genuinely praise the Lord for everything in his life. He praised God for all that He had done for him. He praised God for who He is. He even took the time to remember that his time on the earth was short and that God would remain forever. He knew of his need for God and continually sought after Him. This is why David was a man after God’s own heart. His continual love for and devotion to God allowed him to keep his focus on what (or Who) was important when he was struggling, and it allowed him to let praise overflow from his heart and pour out from his lips. “Let all that I am praise the Lord” When was the last time you took some time to praise God for all that He has done for You? Have you praised God for who He is? Do you recognize your great need for Him? Are you a man/woman after God’s own heart? Think about these things today and allow the praises to flow from you freely. Let all that you are praise the Lord.