Are you talking to yourself or listening to yourself? And why does it matter?

I love this quote from D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: “Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?” 

When I’m listening to myself, I’m usually focused on my problems and wallowing in my emotions. In those moments, I need to talk to myself and remind myself of the truth about the Lord and His work in my life. 

That’s what David did in Psalm 103. He gave his own soul a little talking-to. He told himself—and other worshippers of God—to bless the Lord and remember all that He’s done. 

As we wrap up our month in Psalm 103, we see one last truth about the Lord and David’s response of praise in Psalm 103:19-22. 

“The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all . . . Bless the LORD, O my soul!” (Psalm 103:19, 22b)

Just in case there was any doubt about whether or not God can do all He has promised in this psalm, David spoke to himself about God’s sovereign rule over all. The Lord is on his throne. There is nothing that is beyond His reign. Everything falls under His royal authority. 

The sovereign King is worthy of the praise of all His creation: the angels who obey His voice (Psalm 103:20), all those who do His will (Psalm 103:21), all that He has created (Psalm 103:22a), and David himself (Psalm 103:22b). 

David bookended this psalm with the phrase, ‘Bless the LORD, O my soul” (Psalm 103:1, 22). He reminded himself of God’s goodness, listed out reasons to praise the Lord, and exhorted himself to praise God with all that he had. 

So how can you shift from listening to yourself to talking to yourself today? Take a minute to read through all of Psalm 103. Remind yourself of who God is and what He has done. Talk to yourself about His steadfast love, His generous forgiveness, His forever promises, and His sovereign rule. Don’t forget all the benefits you’ve been given in Christ. Remember and respond to your Redeemer with praise and thanksgiving. 

No matter what you face this week, praise your sovereign Redeemer and King. 

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There’s a saying in my part of the country—and maybe your part, too—“If you don’t like the weather today, just wait until tomorrow.” It’s especially true in the fall and spring, when the weather can change drastically from day to day and even from hour to hour. How am I supposed to tell my kids to dress for school when they need a coat in the morning and shorts in the afternoon? So much in life is constantly changing, whether it’s the weather or relationships or culture or parenting—it feels like nothing stays the same. 

We’re studying Psalm 103 this month, and we’ve seen David remember God’s benefits: His forgiveness, healing, redemption, sustaining power, and steadfast love.  In Psalm 103:15-18, David celebrates the eternality of God’s character. These truths he’s remembering aren’t just for a fleeting season. They’re not here today and gone tomorrow. The steadfast love and promises of God last forever. 

“But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.” (Psalm 103:17-18)

David contrasts God’s eternal character with the fleeting nature of man. In verses 15-16, he says we are like grass that the wind blows away. Nothing in our human world lasts forever—relationships change. Careers end. Bodies age and die. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. He keeps His promises not just to us, but to the future generations that follow. 

Psalm 103:18 says this steadfast love is for those who keep His covenant. God made covenant promises to His people throughout the Old Testament. He promised to bless them, and they promised to obey. When the people failed to keep their part of the covenant, God sent His Son to live an obedient life and die for His covenant-breaking people. 

Galatians 3:29 tells us that if we belong to Christ, we are heirs to all God has promised. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are the covenant children of God who receive His promised, everlasting, steadfast love. 

No matter what you face this week, remember God’s everlasting, covenantal love. 

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Do you remember the last time you were asked to introduce yourself to a new group of people? It always feels so awkward to me. I think, What were those things the group leader asked us to say? What do these people really want to know? It’s hard to sum up who you are in just a few sentences.   

This month we’re walking through Psalm 103 together as David remembers all of God’s benefits. In verses 6-14, David remembers what the Lord told His people about Himself: His righteousness, His character, and His forgiveness. 

“He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” (Psalm 103:7-8) 

In Psalm 103:8, David echoes the words God spoke about Himself when He  proclaimed His name to Moses in Exodus 34:6. We know this is God’s character, because God chose to reveal Himself. The Lord is merciful. He is gracious. He is patient with us, and His constant, faithful love overflows. 

David continues in Psalm 103 to try to capture with words the steadfast love and forgiveness of God: 

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:11-12) 

David uses some big-time analogies to portray these benefits for God’s children. God’s steadfast love is as high as the heavens are above the earth. How far do the heavens reach? Further than our human minds can imagine! 

Our sins have been separated from us as far as the east is from the west. I wonder if David saw the sun rise in the east and set in the west and imagined places in both directions that he’d never see in his lifetime. David wants us to know that when God removes our sin, it becomes untouchable. God’s forgiveness is complete, sufficient, and permanent. 

When you feel discouraged, take a few minutes to read through Psalm 103 and consider the width and length and height and depth of God’s love for you in Christ (Ephesians 3:18). 

No matter what you face this week, remember God’s steadfast love and forgiveness. 

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