The LORD is the Lover of my soul. I have grown to know and love him because he first loved me and extended his grace through the Holy Spirit to me.
But what have I learned about the Lord that causes me to increasingly love him?
Let’s look at who the LORD is—his character and his attributes, found in Psalm 103, to remind us why we should, and do, love him.
- He is the God who forgives, not just once but completely and eternally. A black, grubby, disgusting soul, wiped clean and made “as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18) by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 1:7 NIV
- Healer – he is able and wants to heal all our afflictions; physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.
- Redeemer – to redeem means to take or retake possession of something or someone in exchange for payment. The LORD gave his son in exchange for our sin so we could be united to him.
- Crowns with love and compassion – He places the honour of being his child, royalty, on us. As his child, he pours all his love and compassion toward us. We are treasured, cherished and precious in his sight. Jesus was the flesh and blood representation of the LORD. The promised fulfillment of the covenant promise given to the Israelites through Abraham, the Messiah. This act of coming and dwelling among his creations was the greatest act of love.
- Satisfies with good things – in Matthew 7:9-11, Jesus says that God longs to give his children, followers of Christ, good gifts. Jesus compares it to our love and desire to bless our children with good things, only abundantly more.
- Renews – no one or nothing is capable of renewing us like the LORD. He can take all our broken dreams, regrets, and mistakes, and restore us and them. He desires us to soar like eagles in him.
- Righteous – He alone is righteous, pure and holy.
- Just – because the LORD is righteous, he is the only authority for truth and justice.
- Known – he is not a distant God reigning from afar. He made his character and truth known to Moses, Noah, Abraham and the Israelite nation. But even more amazing than that, he came in human flesh, Jesus, to show us how to live by example.
- Gracious – our God is a long-suffering God, meaning he extends much grace to his people, despite our tendency to mess up and go our own way. Through the blood of Jesus, they are removed from his sight.
- Slow to anger – the LORD is a patient parent. He knows how weak we are and teaches us at whatever pace we can to grow into the likeness of Jesus. He remembers we are just bags of dust particles, easily blown away.
- Everlasting – our LORD is eternal. He had no beginning and has no end, and therefore so are his promises, love and compassion. And as his children, so are we.
- Sovereign King – The LORD God Almighty is ruler over ALL things; every molecule, force or law. Nothing happens without his knowledge and permission. Our Lord Jesus reigns as King. THE King, who will one day return and set up his kingdom here on earth.
These are some of the attributes of God. There are many others.
This is why I love the LORD.
I’d like to encourage each of you to take some time this week to read Psalm 103 for yourself and fully absorb God’s goodness and love. Spend a few moments pondering who God is. Perhaps journal what he means to you and how he has shown himself in your life.
If you struggle with this, sit quietly and ask him to make himself known to you, bigger and deeper. Pray for a larger capacity of his Holy Spirit. He longs to have a deep union with you.
Like Paul in Ephesians 1:17, I pray, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”
Be well, my friends!
Patricia