Talking to Yourself as You Talk to God
Psalm 103
Psalm 103:1 (ESV)
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Psalm 103:1 (NLT)
Let all that I am praise the LORD, with my whole heart, I
will praise his holy name!
Psalm 103:2 (ESV)
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his
benefits.
The main art of spiritual living is to know how to handle yourself. You have to take yourself in hand, you have to address yourself, preach to yourself, question yourself. You must say to your soul: ‘Why art thou cast down’--what business have you to be disquieted? You must turn on yourself, upbraid yourself, exhort yourself, and say to yourself: ‘Hope thou in God’--instead of muttering in this depressed unhappy way. And then you must go on to remind yourself of God, Who God is, and what God has done, and what God has pledged Himself to do. The essence of this matter is to understand that this self of ours, this other man within us, has got to be handled. Do not listen to him; turn on him; speak to him, upbraid him, exhort him, encourage him, remind him of what you know, instead of listening placidly to him and allowing him to drag you down and depress you.
~David Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Spiritual Depression
1. The Psalmist reminds us that God has forgiven our sins
Psalm 103:3 (NLT)
He forgives all my sins...
Psalm 103:10 (NLT)
He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal
harshly with us, as we deserve.
Psalm 103:12 (NLT)
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
2. The psalmist reminds us that God understands our weakness
Psalm 103:8-9 (NLT)
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.
Psalm 103:13-14 (NLT)
The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. (NLT)
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive mercy and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
3. The psalmist reminds us of the good things God has done for us
Psalm 103:3 (NLT)
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
Psalm 103:4 (NLT)
He redeems me from death and crown me with love and tender mercies.
Psalm 103:5 (NLT)
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagles.
Psalm 103:6 (MSG)
God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet.
Psalm 103:17-18 (NLT)
But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!
4. The psalmist reminds of the greatness of our God
Psalm 103:19 (NLT)
The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything. Praise the LORD, you angels, you might ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. Yes, praise the LORD, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will! Praise the LORD, everything he has created, everything in all his
kingdom. Let all that I am praise the LORD.
