Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 103:3-5
He forgives all your iniquity;
he heals all your diseases.
4 He redeems your life from the Pit;
he crowns you with faithful love and compassion.
5 He satisfies you with good things;
your youth is renewed like the eagle.
He crowns you with faithful love and compassion. A crown identifies royalty. The identifying marker that God places on your head to adorn you as his own is a crown of faithful love and compassion. If you receive the adorning that God gives, you are identified as one adorned with faithful love and compassion. You are not crowned with sin and shame or brokenness, you are adorned with faithful love and compassion. Praise God for adorning of you with this crown.
SCRIPTURE READING:
Psalm 103 – The Message
1-2 O my soul, bless God.
From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
don’t forget a single blessing!
3-5 He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.
6-18 God makes everything come out right;
he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work,
opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace;
not easily angered, he’s rich in love.
He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,
nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.
Men and women don’t live very long;
like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
leaving nothing to show they were here.
God’s love, though, is ever and always,
eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
as they follow his Covenant ways
and remember to do whatever he said.
19-22 God has set his throne in heaven;
he rules over us all. He’s the King!
So bless God, you angels,
ready and able to fly at his bidding,
quick to hear and do what he says.
Bless God, all you armies of angels,
alert to respond to whatever he wills.
Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—
everything and everyone made by God.
And you, O my soul, bless God!
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanksgiving to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray today for the ongoing war in Ukraine. Ask God to bring an end to the war. Pray for the church to be strengthened in Ukraine.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
Yesterday, we spent some time thinking about the benefits of God that David challenged us not to forget. Today, in verses 6-13, we’ll remember God’s Character and look at what that means for us. As you read through the Psalm earlier, did you notice the character traits of God? Here are the ones I noticed: righteous, just, compassionate, gracious, slow to become angry, restrained. And then, after David reminds us of who God is, he says this, “11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” Wow, stop right here and go back and read those verses again, and as you do, think about his faithful love—his loyalty towards you—and his capacity to remove your transgressions—your iniquity—it is immeasurable! Because of Jesus’ atonement, your sins have been removed—they’re moved so far away from God that they will never be held against you or even remembered. That’s humbling. Remember the Lord’s mercy and compassion towards you—his child—through the forgiveness of sin, and not only that, but blessing you, too, despite your weakness. Never forget what he has done for you. And as you remember, let your remembrance lead you to worship and praise for his faithful love towards you.