Daily devotion – Learning from king David.
How to Rid Ourselves of Selfishness
Psalm 103:1 – “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”
David speaks to himself in this psalm. He commands his own soul to bless the Lord. It is as though he recognised that his heart was not praising God as it should. Rather than waiting for his feelings to change, he deliberately called upon his soul to worship.
There are times in all of our lives when selfish interests begin to dominate and dictate our thinking. We can become so consumed with our own little world that we lose sight of our great God—His mighty power, His goodness, and His faithfulness. The cares and foolishness of this world can form a dark cloud over our lives, bringing nothing but discouragement and sorrow. Sadly, much of it is self-inflicted.
David recognised this tendency in his own life, but instead of remaining there, he came to his senses. He chose to worship. He chose to give thanks. In doing so, joy was restored because he returned to the very purpose for which he was created.
Revelation 4:11 reminds us:
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
Far too often we give ourselves a licence to attend a “pity party” where everything revolves around me. Pastor Greg Laurie once shared ten practical ways to lift ourselves from under the weight of discouragement. One of the most memorable was: “Find someone in need and help them—and then do that nine more times!” There is great wisdom in those words. One of the quickest ways to overcome selfishness is to serve someone else.
David also understood that true worship begins deep within the soul. It is not merely an outward expression or religious routine—it is the genuine response of a heart captivated by God.
Charles H. Spurgeon beautifully wrote, “Soul music is the very soul of music.”
He also said:
“Let others murmur, but do thou bless. Let others bless themselves and their idols, but do thou bless the Lord. Let others use only their tongues, but as for me I will cry, ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul.'”
David continues,
“All that is within me, bless His holy name.”
He knew that worship must never be superficial. Every part of his being was to honour the Lord. Just as a musician carefully tunes every string before playing, David sought to have every part of his heart in tune with God.
The same is true for us. When we lay aside our self-centred focus and become captivated by the glory, majesty, and wonder of Almighty God, we become instruments of praise in His hands. Our lives begin to fulfil the very purpose for which we were created.
Today, instead of focusing on yourself, lift your eyes to the Lord. Count His blessings. Worship Him with all that is within you. As David discovered, there is great freedom and joy when we simply choose to bless the Lord.
“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”