The Communion Psalm
Read: Psalm 103; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Cor. 11:26) The
Rev. David Bast March 2, 2026
Do you ever find yourself forgetting just how much God has done for you? Life gets busy, problems press in, and gratitude slips away. Psalm 103 calls us back: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
This devotional series takes us deep into one of Scripture’s most beloved psalms—a song overflowing with thanksgiving for God’s mercy, forgiveness, healing, and steadfast love. Across these devotional readings, we will remember together the benefits of belonging to God: forgiveness of sin, redemption from the pit, compassion like a father’s, and love that is “from everlasting to everlasting.” We’ll be reminded that God does not treat us as our sins deserve, that he removes our transgressions “as far as the east is from the west,” and that he remembers we are dust—yet loves us beyond measure.
As we trace the themes of Psalm 103, we’ll also see how they find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. At the cross, God’s justice and mercy meet; in the resurrection, we discover that dust is not the end; in the Spirit, we experience renewal day by day.
If you’ve been feeling weary, guilty, or forgotten, this psalm speaks directly to your heart. It assures us that God knows us completely and loves us fully. Let this series help you remember and rejoice in all God’s benefits, responding with gratitude and praise. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
This series was written by writer and pastor David Bast, who served for 23 years as the President and Broadcast Minister for Words of Hope. In his more than 40 years of devotional writing and preaching, he has been encouraging believers around the world to be shaped by God and his Word.
Read: Psalm 103; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Cor. 11:26) The
Read: Psalm 103:1; Psalm 96 Bless the LORD, O my soul. (Ps. 103:1) It’s helpful to pay attention to the way psalms begin. Many are addressed to God in prayer,
Read: Psalm 103:1; Deuteronomy 6:4-9 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (Deut. 6:5) Jesus cited
Read: Psalm 103:1-2; Deuteronomy 8:11-20 Take care lest you forget the LORD your God. (Deut. 8:11) The Bible places a strong emphasis on the importance of remembering all that God
Read: Psalm 103:1-3; Romans 3:21-26 Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (Heb. 9:22) When I was a student, a young atheist once asked me, “If
Read: Psalm 103:1-3; John 11:17-27 We walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor. 5:7) We are invited to praise the Lord “who heals all your diseases” (Ps. 103:3). That’s
Read: Psalm 103:1-4; Psalm 130 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. (Ps. 130:1) In Psalm 130, the psalmist speaks for all of us. We have all
Read: Psalm 103:1-4; Psalm 23 . . . who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy. (Ps. 103:4) I first learned this verse in the King James Version of the
Read: Psalm 103:1-5; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (2 Cor. 4:16) As the legend goes, the
David Bast is a writer and pastor who served for 23 years as the President and Broadcast Minister for Words of Hope. In his more than 40 years of devotional writing and preaching, he has been encouraging believers around the world to be shaped by God and his Word.
Prior to his ministry and work at Words of Hope, Dave served as a pastor for 18 years in congregations in the Reformed Church in America. A graduate of Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, he is the author of nine devotional books and Bible studies, including God of My Days,Why Doesn't God Act More Like God,Christ in the Psalms, andA Gospel for the World.
Dave and his wife, Betty Jo, have four children and eight grandchildren. Dave enjoys reading, growing tomatoes, and avidly follows the Detroit Tigers.