Forget not all His benefits.
So urged the Psalmist, King David, to all of us.
And exactly what are those benefits? The “sweet singer of Israel” names five….
–He pardons all your iniquities.
–He heals all your diseases.
–He redeems your life from the pit.
–He crowns you with favor and compassion.
–He satisfies your years with good things.
That’s quite a load! Our Lord in Heaven pardons us, heals us, redeems us, crowns us, and satisfies us.
He has certainly done that for me. When He saved me, He pardoned me as a result of Calvary. Furthermore, since I’ve been saved I’ve continued to need pardoning, and He does that also. His salvation is wonderful and ongoing, and it’s all because of what He did for us at Calvary.
He has healed me of various diseases and ailments. Some I know about and some I will not learn about until we arrive in Glory and the curtain is pulled back and all secrets are revealed.
He has redeemed me from hell, from sin, from the grave.
He daily crowns me with good things, particularly lovingkindness and compassion.
As a result of all of this, He satisfies me with good things.
How wonderful is this list!
That list of five wonderful blessings has been governing the way I pray. I start with my family, of course, those I’ve loved the longest and the best. My wife, my children, my grands, my siblings, and theirs.
“Father in Heaven, I pray for (name). Oh Lord, I pray that you will pardon his iniquities, heal all his diseases, redeem him from the pit, crown him with lovingkindness, and satisfy his years with good things.”
Pardon him. For his sins are many. Like mine. He does not deserve thy forgiveness. Nor do I. So this is not about giving us what we deserve. The Psalmist said you had not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities (103:10). You are all of grace, and how good is that. Thank you, Father.
Heal him. Whether he knows he was at risk for this disease or that infirmity, I pray you will protect him and make him well. I look at my own life and think of the various infirmities that laid me low at one time or other, and give you thanks that I am well. At my advanced age (earthwise, but my age is a blip in time for Thee), I know I’m subject to more things. But You are Jehovah-Rophe, the God who heals us. Thank you, Father.
Redeem him. The pit, I take it, is hell itself. The Psalmist said you brought him “up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mire” (Psalm 40:2). Thank you for this, O Father.
Crown him. Smother him with thy love and grace and goodness. The Psalmist said his cup runneth over. Mine too. O, may my loved one know such blessing. Thank you, Father.
Satisfy him. I’m not asking that you give him all he wants and thinks he wants. I’m asking that the deepest needs of his life will be met through Thy grace, and that when he looks back over his life, he will say, “Hitherto the Lord has been my help!” and will give thanks. I give thanks to Thee, Dear Father.
May I recommend this fivesome to you? It’s a great way to pray. Not the only way, of course, but it’s biblical, it’s thorough, and it’s a blessing.
