A Reason To Praise

I welcomed our guests, prayed for those traveling or ill, and we blessed Richie and Anna as they await their baby. With Thanksgiving still in our rearview and Advent beginning, I invited us to find at least one reason to praise—especially if you don’t feel like it. Our memories are not empty; they’re selective. We tend to remember the bad and forget the good, which breeds discontent. Psalm 103 teaches us to talk to our souls and to direct our memories toward God’s benefits.

David models holy self-talk: “Bless the Lord, O my soul… and forget not all His benefits.” That’s not denial. It’s discipleship of the inner life—commanding mind, will, and emotions to remember who God is and what He has done. The antidote to discouragement isn’t merely “be happy” or “be content,” but bless the Lord—praise that actively recalls reality as God defines it.

We walked through those benefits in the present tense: He forgives, heals, redeems from the pit, crowns with steadfast love and tender mercies, and satisfies with good. These are not museum pieces from our past; they are mercies made new today. God’s character anchors this: He reveals Himself as compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. He will not constantly accuse or remain angry forever. Romans 8 reminds us that the One who could condemn us instead justifies us and intercedes for us.

Then come two immeasurables to reset our perspective. His unfailing love towers higher than the heavens are above the earth—vast, unexhausted, and personal. And He separates our sins from us as far as east is from west—an infinite separation that we could never undo. When accusations—external or internal—get loud, remember: your sin has been removed; your Savior has not.

So as we turn toward Christmas, call your soul to action. Talk to yourself biblically. If you can find just one reason to praise, start there. Praise is not a mood; it’s obedience that opens the door for joy. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Tell your soul to praise Praise isn’t a feeling; it’s a decision to direct your inner life toward God. Biblical self-talk commands your mind, will, and emotions to bless the Lord. Like David, speak to yourself before you speak to your circumstances. Start with one reason and say it out loud. [54:56]
• 2. Remember benefits, not just burdens Our memory is selective; it clings to pain and lets go of grace. Intentionally rehearse what God is doing now—He forgives, heals, redeems, crowns with love, and satisfies. Naming these gifts trains your heart toward gratitude and steadies you in trial. Gratitude isn’t denial; it’s accurate remembrance. [58:12]
• 3. God’s character steadies your chaos God disclosed Himself as compassionate, merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Knowing who He is precedes resting in what He does. When you’re unsure what He’s doing, anchor in who He is. Revelation of character fuels resilient praise. [64:00]
• 4. No condemnation, only separating grace Accusations will come, but the Judge is your Justifier and Advocate. His love is higher than the heavens, and your sins are sent farther than east is from west. Worship from freedom, not fear; your failures are not your future. Let assurance replace accusation. [75:47]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [32:17] - Family updates and prayers
• [38:53] - Blessing over new baby
• [42:19] - A Reason to Praise
• [45:03] - Why we remember the bad
• [51:48] - Bless the Lord, O my soul
• [54:56] - The holy art of self-talk
• [58:12] - Forget not all His benefits
• [64:00] - God’s character: compassionate and slow to anger
• [66:38] - He won’t accuse or stay angry
• [69:11] - No condemnation; Jesus our advocate
• [72:23] - Love higher than the heavens
• [75:47] - East from west and good gifts
• [78:38] - Call your soul to action
• [81:57] - Closing prayer and Christmas series

Bible reading (ESV)
Psalm 103
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children,
18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Observation questions (read Psalm 103 and refer to the sermon)

1. What is the first thing David tells his soul to do in verses 1–2, and what does he mean by “forget not all his benefits”? ([51:48])
2. Which specific benefits are listed in verses 3–5? Notice the pastor’s point about the verbs being present tense—what does that observation highlight about these benefits? ([58:12])
3. What character traits of God are named in verses 7–8, and how do those traits change the way one might respond to suffering or accusation? ([01:04:00])
4. What two images does David use in verses 11–12 to describe God’s love and the removal of sin? How did the preacher connect those images to assurance? ([01:15:47])

Interpretation questions (think about what these mean for believers)

1. What does the instruction to “talk to your soul” imply about personal responsibility for inner life, and how does David function as a model for that discipline? ([54:56])
2. How should the present-tense language in verses 3–5 shape a Christian’s expectation of God’s activity today rather than seeing those mercies as only past events? ([58:12])
3. In what practical way does the description “slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” serve as a theological response to internal accusations and guilt? ([01:06:38])
4. The sermon said praise is obedience more than a mood. How does framing praise as an act of obedience change the way the church should practice thanksgiving during hard seasons? ([01:18:38])

Application questions (practical, specific steps)

1. Choose one benefit from Psalm 103 (forgiveness, healing, redemption, crown of steadfast love, daily mercy, satisfaction). Write a one-sentence, present-tense statement you will say aloud when discouragement comes (for example, “The Lord forgives me now”). Say that sentence aloud to someone in the group and use it this week. ([58:12])
2. Describe one recent negative memory you replay often. Name one specific good thing God has done in the last year that counters it. When this week will you rehearse that good memory intentionally? ([48:23])
3. Pick a daily time this week (morning, commute, lunch, bedtime) and commit to 2–3 minutes of “holy self-talk” where you call your mind, will, and emotions to bless the Lord. Which time will you choose and how will you remind yourself to do it? ([01:18:38])
4. Identify a recurring accusation (internal shame, a critical voice, or a specific charge from someone else). Which verse from Psalm 103 will you use as your verbal answer to that accusation? Memorize that verse and report back next meeting. ([01:09:11])
5. Think of one relationship or habit that feeds a complaining spirit in you (social media, a friend, family pattern). Name one concrete change you will make this week to reduce complaint and increase praise (example: one grateful text to someone, mute a feed, or set a gratitude alarm). ([48:23])
6. As Advent/Christmas approaches, choose one of these short commitments and begin on the day you name now: (a) speak one reason to praise out loud every day for seven days; (b) write a two-line “bless the Lord” prayer each morning for a week. Which will you do and when will you start? ([42:19])

Use this guide to steer your group’s time: read Psalm 103 aloud together, work through the observation and interpretation questions, then spend the majority of time on the application prompts so each person leaves with a concrete practice to try.