Friday, June 13, 2025
Worship in Prayer – Psalm 103 Submitted by Kay Crumley
In my study this week I have noticed a theme that God is teaching me through study and the sermon. God does that for us who need to hear the same truth in more than one way so He can get the message through to us and make if more impactful. Worship takes many forms, but the heart of worship is to turn our deepest most sincere attention, love, and sense of awe toward our object of worship. Pastor Jim shared the general principle that we become a reflection of what we worship. As believers we know we were created in God’s image, yet man sinned resulting in our need for redemption. Ephesians 2:10 teaches we are His workmanship created to fulfill the purpose God has for us from the very beginning. God didn’t give up on us but provided the necessary redemption through Christ Jesus. Therefore, we should reflect God, His character, and lifestyle aligned with His Word.
The Hebrew work zakhar means to actively remember. The implication is that it is more than passively recalling something from our past but also to act on that recollection. We see in scripture that when God or others remembered it was followed with action or intervention. Kristie McLelland teaches that we are to remember so that we have faith in moving forward. In seasons of change we are often filled with fear and anxiety. However, knowing that God has worked in our lives in the past gives us assurance that He will be faithful to continue to be with us and guide us into the future, regardless of where that may be.
Worship requires that we remember the reason we must worship. But remembering alone isn’t enough. We must actively express our worship of God in psalms, prayers, and spiritual songs. That leads to considering how to incorporate passages from the Book of Psalms in our worship or prayer.
I have selected Psalm 103:1-5 as an example. This Psalm is also a song many of us know but from a different version. Verse 1, Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, and all that is within me, Bless His Holy name, might bring a tune to mind as it does for me. There are at least two versions of songs that begin with these lyrics, one more contemporary than the other. But the point is that we have reason to Bless or Worship our Lord. Verse one is a declaration of worship from the very depths of our soul. Verse two gives the why of our worship. Don’t forget all His benefits. Remember, zakhar, actively calling to mind what He has done and is doing in our lives.
1 My soul, bless the Lord,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 My soul, bless the Lord,
and do not forget all his benefits.
In the next three verses King David, the author of this Psalm, begins listing some of the many benefits from God that give us reason to bless or worship Him.
He has forgiven us for our sin, He heals our body, He saved us from the consequences of our sin, the pit of hell. He covers us with His love and compassion. He provides us with good things. He renews our strength, so we are like a strong majestic eagle.
3 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.
These are not our memories but maybe they give us a starting point. I challenge you to take time to remember, maybe even list, some of the memories you have of His benefits in your life. We have all been forgiven of our sin if we have accepted God’s gift of salvation. Christ followers have been saved from the depths of hell. Start there, then continue to identify the very personal and real ways that He has been faithful in answering prayers and providing for your needs. Try making the words of this psalm your prayer to God from the depths of your soul with all your being.
As we remember and actively move forward in our walk with Him, we can begin to reflect Him, the object of our worship.
