The entire book of Psalms entitled "Praises" in Hebrew text; presents a day to day reality. From the sinfulness of man, patterns of the wicked, to the periodic stumbling of believers.
Psalms 103:2 tells us to never forget the good things he does for us.
These earthly gifts from God included: 1) forgiveness of sin 2) recovery from sickness 3) deliverance from death 4) abundant loving kindness and mercy & 5) food to sustain life
Psalms 103:8-10
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us or remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
When situations become difficult or trouble arises and we can no longer see an end insight we often become angry & ready to run away. Insecurities & feelings of hopelessness surface. Some of us begin to feel as if we are being punished.The reality is ...in comparison to eternal punishment and God's sacrifice for our sins, the turmoil we experience is a mere pebble dropped on the foot vs a ACME anvil to the head. Recognize this, the presence of grace unbeknownst at times & undeserved. Those moments of difficulty & strife are meant for our refinement. Think of it as sand paper smoothing and finessing our characters, our hearts, & our thinking for something greater. Tests or teachable moments that take you from Genin to Chunin, from Karate Kid to Sensei, from elementary school to middle school, from the mail room to district manager. Consider it a form of graduation that's given you tools you may not have had before but they are guaranteed to help you when you get to the next level.
Psalms 103:15
..like grass. Man's life is short & transitory.
Psalms 103:17-18
Those who appeal to God's mercy by proper fear and obedience will over come the shortness of physical life with eternal life.
Psalms 51 is a passage displaying man's repentance and God's forgiveness of sin. David had an affair and murdered the husband of the woman he had an affair with (Bathsheba & Uriah). David recognized that his sin was not God's fault in any way, and blamed no one but himself. David begged for divine forgiveness. God is GENEROUS, WILLING, & EAGER to uphold the believer. However, ritual without genuine repentance is useless.
Paul (Saul) wrote the book of Romans to teach the great truths of the gospel of grace to believers. Rich doctrinal and practical instruction.
Romans 3:20-31 tells us this:
Doing perfectly what God's moral law requires is IMPOSSIBLE. EVERY PERSON is cursed by that inability. NO ONE can be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law makes sin known, showing us how sinful we are, proving the universal sinfulness of man, and the NEED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Righteousness is impossible to gain by human effort. GOD IS IT'S SOURCE. We receive righteousness through Christ & Christ's death. God can bestow his righteousness on all who believe. We receive the gift of grace by faith alone. Our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. Emphasizing faith does NOT mean that we can forget about the law, in fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
Romans 15:13
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 12:32
" So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. "
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