Soul Music

“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” — Psalm 103:1-2

Our Wednesday evening prayer service started with our pastor asking us the question, “What is within your soul that comes out of your mouth?” That was a convicting question, for surely there are times, for all of us, when we are not real proud of what comes out of our mouth. But then he gave us the challenge to make sure that, based on Psalm 103, we praise the LORD in five specific areas—praise Him from the very depths of our souls. This is praise music indeed, from our souls—soul music!

• Let us praise Him for the Gospel! Psalm 103:3 says “He forgives all my sins. . .” verse 10 says “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” Surely the saving power of Jesus Christ is something to praise Him for—but how often do we actually do it? And how often do we declare it to others (even our families!) with a heart of gratitude that says, “I am so grateful for my salvation made possible through the atoning death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
• Let us praise Him for the healing of our diseases! Verse 3 concludes with “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.” Our pastor was quick to add that we know the LORD does not always heal those who are sick on this earth—but surely all healing that occurs in a human body (whether by surgery, medication, time, other remedies) is brought about by the divine healing power of God. Nothing is beyond God’s scope of healing, according to His will. I remember an interview with Joni Eareckson Tada, who has been a quadriplegic for years because of a diving accident . . . but who has gone on to have a worldwide ministry to handicapped. She was asked what she was looking forward to in heaven. I immediately thought that her answer would be, “to walking and running again—to hugging and clapping and being able to move!” But that’s not what she said. She said that she was looking forward to not sinning anymore—that the curse of the “flesh” would be gone. She was looking forward to no more bad thoughts, no more unkind words spoken—indeed we can praise Him for the healing of our diseases!
• Let us praise Him for our redemption! Verse 4 says, “He redeems my life from the pit.” The LORD has freed us, redeemed us, ransomed us—and further in the Psalms the reminder is there–to “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so!” Psalm 107:2  Are you redeemed? Then praise Him for that!
• Let us praise Him for His love and mercy! There are times in our Bible studies on military bases when I will say, “Do you know how much the LORD loves you?” We need to say that—we need to “count the ways”—we need to proclaim it because we all serve in a hurting world. Remember Steve Green’s classic song, People Need the Lord. Well, it’s true. And Psalm 103:4 says “. . . He crowns me with love and compassion.” I have met many military members whose favorite verse is Lamentations 3:21-23: “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” That is praise from the soul of Jeremiah, the prophet, which is truth for us today whether we’re at home or in the desert.
• Let us praise Him for bringing true satisfaction! 103:5 says, “He satisfies my desires with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” There are so many things in the world that satisfy, but only for the moment. True satisfaction comes from Christ alone, and Christ says in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6

And when David was in the desert of Judah, in Psalm 63:5, we see an affirmation of what we have just reviewed: “My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You!”

So, going back to our original question, “What is within your soul that comes out of your mouth?” My prayer is that this has been a reminder that we have much for which to be grateful—and that we should praise Him for! Soul music, indeed! Hallelujah!

Questions to share:

1. Take each of the five categories of praise and spend a moment praising God for that benefit in your life.

2. Take the time to write your spouse and let them know you are grateful for them.