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; F217
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!
PSALM 103
As is often the case on Saturday morning; the LORD woke me up early, so I could take advantage of the quietness in the house and spend time with HIM. Booting up my laptop, there seems to always be the temptation to want to go look at news and see what the latest is on the dinar. You're right, I went to look, briefly, but I was driven back to prayer because, in part, what we have been waiting for hadn't shown up yet. The Sun isn't up yet, but the promise of a new day is upon us, and the need to stand in faith for what lies ahead is still ever present. So, I prayed...and the LORD reminded me of something I had heard the other day..."Forget not all his benefits". I went looking for the scrïpture that came from and found it in the Psalm above, and reading it again, I was caused to consider ALL the LORD has done for me in the past 5 years. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that had the revaluation of the IQD happened way back when I thought I wanted it to happen, I would, more than likely, be involved in some things, I wasn't prepared for but, like the silversmith mentioned in PROVERBS 25,
2 It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver,
and the smith has material for a vessel;"
HE has made me ready for HIS service.
To help in my understanding of this whole process, I went looking for a story I had read a while back about the "refiner's fire". Be blessed in reading it, and know that the LORD sees what you are going through and knows what's going to happen next. What HE expects from you throughout this process is your continued exercise of mercy and compassion, and to remain in faith. "For without faith, it is impossible to please HIM, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." Hebrews 11:6
Some translations say "he rewards those who diligently seek him". In other words, you're doing it on purpose each and every day, not just because of your plight. You see, one thing that occurred to me, some time ago, was that I had to look past the "trial" that I was going through. That, in itself, is an exercise of faith. How could "James" say, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,..."? Well, think what you want but, I believe he was looking past the circumstances to the point in life when his situation would be better. What makes me think that? Read the rest of the passage. He says; "for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." "Lacking in nothing"...I don't know about you, but I like the sound of that.
The Refiner's Fire Story
Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to
read the scrïptures and make them the subject of
conversation. While reading the third chapter of
Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression
in the third verse.
"And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
One lady's opinion was that it was intended to
convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the
grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a
silversmith and report to them what he said
on the subject. She went accordingly and without
telling the object of her errand, begged to know the
process of refining silver, which he fully described
to her.
"But Sir," she said, "do you sit while the work of
refining is going on?" "Oh, yes madam, “replied
the silversmith, "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed
on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining
be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver
will be injured."
The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort
too, of the expression,
"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier
of silver."
Christ sees it needful to put His children into a
furnace. His eye is steadily intent on the work of
purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged
in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come
at random; "the very hairs of your head are
all numbered."
As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith
called her back, and said he had still further to
mention, that he only knows when the process of
purifying was complete, by seeing his own image
reflected in the silver.
Beautiful example! When Christ shall see His own
image in His people, His work of purifying will
be accomplished.
Author Unknown
LORD, my prayer this morning is that I may reflect YOUR image in my life, as the silversmith sees his face reflecting from pure silver. In the might NAME of JESUS....amen
Subject: Forget not HIS benefits 
Sat Jan 24, 2009 6:32 pm
