“Sonnets Urging the Soul to Forget Not the Endless Benefits Bestowed by Christ Our Risen Lord” is a vibrant set of 10 Shakespearean sonnets that call the soul to remember and rejoice in the manifold blessings poured out by Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord. Drawing from Psalm 103:2’s exhortation, the series celebrates 10 distinct benefits—forgiveness, healing, redemption, peace, strength, guidance, love, provision, hope, and eternal life—each a testament to Christ’s boundless love and redemptive power. With a tone of gratitude and awe, these sonnets urge believers to never forget the gifts bestowed through His sacrifice and resurrection, weaving a poetic anthem of praise that spans earthly struggles to eternal glory.
- Forgiveness of Sins: Christ’s blood washes away guilt, a grace that frees us from sin’s chains.
- Healing of the Soul: His mercy mends inner wounds, restoring wholeness through love.
- Redemption from Death: His resurrection defeats the grave, granting life beyond mortality.
- Peace Beyond Understanding: Christ’s calm steadies us amidst chaos, a transcendent refuge.
- Strength in Weakness: His power lifts the frail, turning weakness into divine might.
- Guidance Through Life: His truth lights our path, leading us safely through the dark.
- Love Unfailing: Christ’s eternal love endures, a steadfast bond no trial can break.
- Provision Abundant: His hand supplies every need, a bounty echoing His miracles.
- Hope Everlasting: His promise kindles hope, a light beyond this fading world.
- Eternal Life: Christ’s victory gifts us endless days, a crown of life with Him forever.
Themes and Tone
The series is a Christ-centered celebration, with each sonnet spotlighting a benefit tied to His cross, resurrection, and lordship. Imagery—blood, light, streams, crowns—paints a vivid, timeless picture of His goodness, free of dated elements. The tone is urgent yet joyful, blending a Psalmist’s plea (“forget not”) with exultant praise, urging the soul to dwell on Christ’s endless gifts. It’s personal and cosmic, a call to gratitude that resonates through every line.
Purpose
These sonnets are a poetic wake-up call—to bless the Lord by recalling His benefits, rooted in Christ’s saving work. They stir the heart to worship, ensuring His blessings—earned by Him, not us—stay ever in mind, fueling faith and joy from forgiveness to eternity.
Sonnets Urging the Soul to Forget Not the Endless Benefits Bestowed by Christ Our Risen Lord
Sonnet I: Forgiveness of Sins
Forget not He who bore our every stain,
Christ’s blood a flood to wash our guilt away,
On Calvary’s hill, He broke sin’s iron chain,
And turned our night to mercy’s boundless day.
No debt remains where love hath paid the price,
His grace doth cleanse what justice would condemn,
Through sacrifice, He bids the soul arise,
A benefit from Him, our diadem.
The past, once dark, now fades beneath His gaze,
A pardon flows from hands once nailed and torn,
This gift of peace through all our fleeting days,
Doth prove His love for sinners newly born.
O Redeemer, Thou who sets the captive free,
Thy benefit of grace abides with me.
Sonnet II: Healing of the Soul
Forget not He who heals the heart’s deep woe,
Christ’s touch a balm for wounds no eye can see,
Through love divine, His mercy doth bestow,
A wholeness wrought by Him who died for me.
The scars of sin, the grief that once held sway,
Are mended by the Savior’s gentle care,
His voice doth bid our sorrows flee away,
A benefit of healing we now share.
No pain too vast for His redeeming hand,
He binds the broken with His tender might,
This grace restores where mortal strength once banned,
And lifts the soul to dwell in endless light.
O Living Lord, whose power doth renew,
Thy benefit of health flows ever true.
Sonnet III: Redemption from Death
Forget not He who conquered death’s cold reign,
Christ rose alive, the grave’s dark victory lost,
His triumph broke the shroud of mortal pain,
And paid our ransom at unmeasured cost.
The sting of death, once fierce, now lies subdued,
His resurrection grants us life anew,
A benefit through love so vast imbued,
That hell itself cannot our souls pursue.
From dust to glory, He hath paved the way,
A promise sealed by blood and empty tomb,
This gift eternal shines through every day,
Dispelling fear with Heaven’s radiant bloom.
O Redeemer, Thou who lives to save,
Thy benefit redeems beyond the grave.
Sonnet IV: Peace Beyond Understanding
Forget not He who calms the storm within,
Christ’s peace a gift no tempest can unmake,
Amidst life’s wars, His love doth yet begin,
A stillness deep for every soul to take.
The world may rage, its chaos press us sore,
Yet in His heart, a quiet refuge lies,
This benefit doth steady us once more,
A tranquil stream beneath His watchful eyes.
No fear can hold where He hath spoken rest,
His voice subdues the tumult of our care,
Through trials fierce, this blessing we attest,
A peace divine beyond what words can bear.
O Living Lord, whose calm doth all transcend,
Thy benefit of peace shall never end.
Sonnet V: Strength in Weakness
Forget not He who lifts us when we fall,
Christ’s strength a boon to frail and faltering frame,
In weakness dire, His power doth forestall,
The collapse of hope beneath life’s heavy claim.
Our might may fade, yet His endures supreme,
A benefit to bear us through the fight,
Through Him, we rise on mercy’s flowing stream,
And stand anew in His sustaining light.
The burden shared, the yoke made soft and sweet,
His grace empowers where our own doth cease,
This gift of fortitude our hearts replete,
A strength divine that bids all strife release.
O Redeemer, Thou who aids the meek,
Thy benefit upholds the frail and weak.
Sonnet VI: Guidance Through Life
Forget not He who lights our wandering way,
Christ’s truth a lamp to guide through darkest vale,
His wisdom shines where shadows hold their sway,
A benefit that bids us never fail.
The path unknown, the steps we dare not tread,
Are charted by His ever-steady hand,
Through doubt and fear, His voice hath gently led,
To bring us safe to Canaan’s promised land.
No maze too vast, no night too deep to roam,
His counsel steers where mortal sight grows dim,
This gift doth lead us ever nearer home,
A shepherd’s care bestowed by love from Him.
O Living Lord, whose word doth all direct,
Thy benefit of guidance doth protect.
Sonnet VII: Love Unfailing
Forget not He whose love shall never wane,
Christ’s heart a flame that burns through every age,
No height nor depth can sever mercy’s reign,
A benefit inscribed on Heaven’s page.
When all else fades, His care remains secure,
A steadfast vow no sin can e’er undo,
Through trials fierce, this love doth yet endure,
A bond eternal, boundless, ever true.
The cross doth prove His passion for our sake,
A gift unearned, yet freely He bestows,
This love doth heal where hearts in silence break,
And blooms where mortal kindness never grows.
O Redeemer, Thou whose love prevails,
Thy benefit of grace forever sails.
Sonnet VIII: Provision Abundant
Forget not He who feeds the hungry soul,
Christ’s hand a source of bounty unforeseen,
With bread of life, He makes the spirit whole,
A benefit where want hath never been.
The loaves He broke, the fish He multiplied,
Still echo in the gifts we daily find,
His care supplies where need hath once decried,
A lavish grace to nourish humankind.
No lack too great for Him who fills our days,
His providence doth flow from Heaven’s store,
This blessing meets us in a thousand ways,
A table spread with riches evermore.
O Living Lord, who gives beyond our plea,
Thy benefit sustains abundantly.
Sonnet IX: Hope Everlasting
Forget not He who plants a living hope,
Christ’s promise gleams beyond this fleeting sphere,
Through darkest hours, His light doth yet elope,
A benefit to banish every fear.
The world may fade, its glories turn to dust,
Yet in His word, a future bright is sown,
This grace uplifts where mortals place their trust,
A star to guide us to His holy throne.
No grief can quench the vision He imparts,
A dawn assured where shadows have no reign,
This hope renews the weary, faithful hearts,
A gift of joy through all that yet remain.
O Redeemer, Thou who hope doth frame,
Thy benefit endures through endless fame.
Sonnet X: Eternal Life
Forget not He who grants us life to come,
Christ’s victory crowns the soul with endless days,
Beyond the grave, His love doth overcome,
A benefit that echoes in His praise.
The sting of death, the tomb’s unyielding hold,
Are vanquished by the One who rose again,
Through Him, we gain a heritage untold,
A home where sin and sorrow ne’er attain.
This gift supreme, the crown of all His care,
Doth lift us up to dwell where angels sing,
Eternal life, His promise we now share,
A ceaseless reign with Christ, our risen King.
O Living Lord, whose heart doth all bestow,
Thy benefit of life forever flows.
Passionately Pursuing Christ 