Give Thanks to the Lord

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, We come before You this morning with hearts that sometimes forget, yet You never forget us. Open our eyes, Lord, to see Your goodness, to remember Your forgiveness, Your healing, Your redemption, and Your tender mercies. Stir our souls, Father, that we may truly bless Your holy name—not just with our lips, but with all that is within us. As we study Your Word today, speak to us, renew our hearts, and lead us into a life of true thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Introduction – Bless the Lord, O My Soul

Take your Bibles and turn with me to Psalm 103 — one of the greatest psalms of thanksgiving in all of Scripture.

David begins this psalm not by talking to God, but by talking to himself. He says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”

Now that’s interesting — he’s not addressing the congregation, he’s not even addressing heaven — he’s addressing his own soul. He’s saying, “Come on, soul, wake up and worship!”

Have you ever had to do that? Sometimes our hearts grow dull, our gratitude fades, and we forget how good God has been. David had to remind himself — and so do we — that God is worthy of praise no matter the season.

Thanksgiving is not about a day on the calendar — it’s a condition of the heart. Real thanksgiving begins when you remember. Verse 2 says, “Forget not all His benefits.”

Friend, we are a forgetful people. God has blessed us beyond measure, yet we often act like spiritual amnesiacs — remembering our burdens and forgetting our blessings. But David says, “Soul, don’t forget what God has done!”

And then he lists five wonderful blessings that call us to bless the Lord.

I. Bless the Lord for His Forgiveness (v.3a)

“Who forgives all your iniquities…”

Gratitude begins with grace. Before David thanked God for the crown, the kingdom, or the victories, he thanked Him for forgiveness.

Forgiveness is the foundation of all true thanksgiving. Until you realize how much you’ve been forgiven, you’ll never truly know how to be thankful.

David had failed miserably — he knew what it was to sin, to fall, to repent, and to be restored. Yet here he declares: “Who forgives all your iniquities.”

Aren’t you glad that word “all” is in the Bible? Not some of your sins, not most of your sins — all your sins.

Psalm 32:1 says,

Psalm 32:1 NKJV

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.

Isaiah 1:18 says,

Isaiah 1:18 NKJV

18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

If God never gave us another blessing, salvation alone would be reason enough to thank Him for eternity.

Illustration: “Imagine a man standing in a courtroom, guilty as charged, the judge slamming the gavel. But then, the judge rises, tears up the sentence, and says, ‘You’re free. You’re forgiven.’ That’s exactly what God does for us. We deserve punishment, yet He extends mercy. How can a heart that has been forgiven not overflow with thanksgiving?”

Application: Don’t let your gratitude fade because you forget your forgiveness. Every day we ought to whisper, “Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul.”

II. Bless the Lord for His Healing (v.3b)

“Who heals all your diseases…”

Now, David isn’t just talking about physical healing — though God can and does heal the body — he’s speaking of spiritual healing. Sin is a sickness that infects the soul. It robs us of peace, poisons our relationships, and drains our joy. But God is the Great Physician.

He heals guilt with grace. He heals worry with His Word. He heals brokenness with His presence.

Sometimes He heals immediately; sometimes progressively; sometimes eternally. But always perfectly, according to His will.

“Consider the true story of 11‑year‑old Terry Jo Duperrault. Her family’s yacht sank in the middle of the ocean, and she was left alone, adrift on a tiny raft. She had no food or water, was injured and burned, and for hours, it seemed as if hope had vanished. But then a passing ship spotted her and rescued her from the open sea. She was pulled from certain death and brought to safety.

That, my friends, is exactly what God does for our souls. Sin leaves us helpless, adrift, and in danger of eternal separation from God. But the Lord sees us in our need. He reaches down in mercy, pulls us from the pit, and restores us with His healing grace. Just as Terry Jo was rescued from the waves, we are rescued from guilt, fear, and despair. Every wound, every broken part of our lives, God can heal. And when we remember His mercy and restoration, our hearts cannot help but overflow with thanksgiving.”

III. Bless the Lord for His Redemption (v.4)

“Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.”

David says, “He redeems your life from destruction.” That word redeem means to buy back — to rescue from ruin.

David knew what it meant to be in the pit. He had faced danger, enemies, and even the consequences of his own sin. Yet he says,

Psalm 40:2 NKJV

2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.

Ephesians 1:7 NKJV

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Friend, the Christian life is a rescue story. You and I were headed for destruction, but Jesus stepped in, paid the price, and brought us back to life.

And He didn’t just pull us out of the pit — He crowned us! He covers us with “lovingkindness and tender mercies.” That’s grace upon grace.

Application: When you’ve been rescued, you can’t help but rejoice. A redeemed life is a thankful life.

IV. Bless the Lord for His Goodness (v.5)

“Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

David ends this section by reminding us that God not only saves and sustains — He satisfies.

The world promises satisfaction but never delivers. It leaves people empty, restless, and hungry for more. But the Lord fills our hearts with goodness and grace.

Psalm 34:8 says,

Psalm 34:8 NKJV

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Philippians 4:19 reminds us,

Philippians 4:19 NKJV

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The thankful heart is the joyful heart. Gratitude renews you — it refreshes your spirit like the eagle’s wings soaring in the sky.

Key Thought: A thankful soul is a strong soul. The more we thank Him, the more we find our strength renewed.

Conclusion – “Forget Not All His Benefits” (v.2)

David closes where he began:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul… and forget not all His benefits.”

That’s the call of this Psalm — Remember. Remember His forgiveness. Remember His healing. Remember His redemption. Remember His goodness.

The problem isn’t that God stops blessing — it’s that we stop remembering. Thanksgiving is the remedy for spiritual forgetfulness.

When you count your blessings, your faith will grow, your joy will rise, and your heart will overflow.

So today, let’s do what David did — let’s talk to our own souls and say:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”

Closing Appeal

If you’re here today and you’ve never received the forgiveness and redemption David spoke of — friend, you can. Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and rose again to give you eternal life.

Salvation is not something you achieve — it’s a gift you receive. And when you receive it, you’ll know a gratitude that never fades and a joy that never ends.

So come to Him. Trust Him. And begin to live the life of Thankful Living.

Closing Prayer

Gracious Lord, Thank You for reminding us today of who You are and all that You have done for us. May the truths of Psalm 103 take root in our hearts. Help us to carry the spirit of gratitude beyond this place—to bless You daily for Your forgiveness, Your healing, Your redemption, and Your goodness. Lord, let our souls never forget Your benefits. Strengthen us to live lives of continual thanksgiving and draw others to the joy of knowing You. We ask this in the matchless name of Jesus Christ, Amen.