Corona Devo 1397

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—  ~Psalm 103:1-2

Like a glass of water filled to the brim, may we have gratitude for all that God has given us.  Hugs from family members, time with special people, yummy food... and the provision and ability to enjoy of all of it: I praise the Lord.  Let's not forget all his benefits.

Strength for today.  
Comfort when we are hollowed out.  
Patience when we have strayed.  
Compassion when we have stayed.  
The love of a perfect Father....

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—  ~Psalm 103:1-2

It's easy to get complacent or even desensitized to all that we have.  And even when our spirit or life is in lack...we still have much.  

Family, food, bounty, blessings, strength for today...forget not all the benefits that the Lord provides to us, His children.

The family and friends and even strangers that we encounter but that shine-the-light-of-Jesus--these are benefits that God blesses us with in our day to day.  We invest in our loved ones, and they invest in us...this is us (God's children) imitating the love of our Father, and it changes things.

Hard hearts soften.  Relationships mend.  Prodigals come back.  And God is glorified through all of it because we are emulating Him.  

Keep seeking God's face and He will reveal Himself.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  ~Jeremiah 29:13

Have we praised the Lord lately?  We can find Him in the praising of Him.  

How can we not praise Him.  His love is better than life.

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  ~Psalm 62:3

And so today, may we praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—  ~Psalm 103:1-2

~~~

But...what if perhaps today is not the day for us to overflow with gratitude, praise, and joy for the Lord?  If there is pain, sorrow, hardship, and questions...praise the Lord, my soul (Psalm 103:1) anyway.   

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.  ~Acts 16:25

Paul and Silas were in jail.  

They were praying and singing hymns to God, but have we any idea what had happened to them just before they lifted their voices in prayer and singing hymns to God?

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. (23) After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. (24) When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.  ~Acts 16:22-24

These were verses 22 through 24...and then came verse 25 (anyway):

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.  ~Acts 16:25

Even if our glass of gratitude is not overflowing today...pray and sing hymns to God anyway...because we would be surprised who is listening, and God our Father is worthy of it.

  • You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power.  ~Revelation 4:11
  • Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might   and honor and glory and blessing!”  ~Revelation 5:12

~~~

If we will give gratitude an inch, may it take up a long, gracious mile in our lives today.  

We pour out our praises to You, Lord, and we are so blessed by your blessings.  

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—  ~Psalm 103:1-2

Like a glass of water filled to the brim, may we have gratitude for all that God has given us, and the provision and ability to enjoy of all of it: I praise the Lord.  Let's not forget all his benefits.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 

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