He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
PSALM 103:3
King David was one of the greatest men in the Old Testament, well known as a shepherd, giant-killer, poet, mighty warrior, and ancestor of Jesus. But he was also an adulterer and murderer.
One spring afternoon while he was strolling on the roof of the palace, he spotted the beautiful Bathsheba bathing in a pool. Even though she was married to Uriah the Hittite, a loyal warrior in King David’s army, he sent for her and she became pregnant. To cover his indiscretion, David summoned Uriah from the battlefield and tried to cajole him into spending the evening with his wife. When his plan failed, David sent Uriah to the front lines where the battle was fiercest. Sure enough, Uriah was killed and David took Bathsheba as his own wife.
Needless to say, the Lord was displeased and communicated His anger through the prophet Nathan, in addition to the consequences for David’s actions (2 Samuel 11–12). But David was quick to confess his sin, and his repentance was genuine. God forgave him and showed him mercy and even referred to him as a “man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22). David never took God’s forgiveness lightly or His blessing for granted.
In Psalm 103, David helps us focus on God’s blessings and what He does for us. His tender mercies reveal how much He loves you and wants the best for you. David’s list is powerful:
• He forgives all your sins.
• He heals all your diseases.
• He redeems your life from destruction.
• He crowns you with love and tender mercies.
• He satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
• He executes righteousness and judgment for you against oppression and sets you free.
• He makes known His ways to you.
• He gives you His grace and mercy in times of need.
David wrote many of the psalms during the years he was hiding in caves and running for his life from a jealous King Saul. He learned to praise and thank God even while his enemies pursued him relentlessly. Can you thank God for His tender mercies no matter how difficult your situation or how long it may take for healing to come? When answers to your prayers don’t seem to be manifesting in the physical realm, you may start doubting His mercies. You may begin to wonder if He is withholding your healing because He is punishing you or because you are unworthy of His grace. You may start viewing God as a judge and lawgiver instead of a compassionate lover and a kind and patient caregiver.
The truth is, all of us are unworthy in our own humanness. Jesus died to make us worthy. He went to the cross to redeem the world to Himself. Because He loves us so much, His tender mercies start afresh every day and never come to an end (Lamentations 3:23). Great is His faithfulness! Day after day, your past doesn’t matter because He wiped your record clean. You are worthy in His sight. You are worthy to receive His tender mercies. You are worthy to receive your healing. Never forget the good things He does for you. Praise Him with a whole heart. He heals all your diseases!
Father, thank You that Your tender mercies start afresh every day! I pray You would etch David’s list permanently on my heart so I will never forget all the ways You care for me. Please forgive me for the times I doubt Your mercies and Your infinite love for me. Thank You for redeeming my life from destruction and crowning me with Your loving kindness. I stand before You, righteous and worthy of Your love through the gift of Your Son. Thank You for giving me Your grace and mercy in my time of need.
I pray You would flood my heart with light so I can grow in my knowledge of You and the wonderful inheritance I have in Jesus. I know all the good things in my life come directly from Your loving hands (James 1:17). I’m so sorry for the times I’ve blamed You for things that have happened that are completely against Your nature or accused You of withholding Your love and Your blessings. You are God and You are good! In all things, You are good, even when I don’t understand Your ways. All Your blessings, all Your tender mercies, and all Your compassion are mine in Jesus Christ. In Him, I am healed of all my diseases. In Him, I am free.