Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.
The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
The Lord lifts up the humble;
he casts the wicked to the ground.
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre!
He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares rain for the earth;
he makes grass grow on the hills.
He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry.
His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
He makes peace in your borders;
he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
He gives snow like wool;
he scatters frost like ashes.
He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
who can stand before his cold?
He sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and rules to Israel.
He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his rules.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 147
I have been admonished by the Lord this morning. The weather this year in the North has been incredibly strange, unseasonably cold, and we are getting antsy for change. It has been a hard year with the weather being so harsh. My response? A bit of complaining and grumbling. I am not alone, but still, it is something the Lord chose to deal with today. Do you see, complaining, whether we feel it is justified or not, is still complaining. The real target of my complaint? God himself. Do you see how he is the creator of even the weather every day? He sends the rains, the snow, the frost, the winds, and the springtime thaw. It is he who is over all. Instead of complaining about the weather, I should be praising my almighty God! Attitude check! The power of God should bring worship and praise, not grumbling and questions of his goodness.
God delights when we are humble before him and fear him. He does not delight in the strength of man physically or mentally. We can be so stubborn and self reliant. God takes joy in a humble heart, a heart that acknowledges who he is and who we are before him. How can I think that any strength I can muster up would bring joy to God almighty? It is ridiculous! Only my heart being humble before the Lord can be pleasing to him. Lord, humble my heart. Create in me a spirit that fears you and you alone.
God cares so much for us. It blows my mind everytime I get even a glimpse of the love he has for us. He is so good! He heals the brokenhearted and binds the wounded. One thing to realize however is that in order for the healing of my heart to come, I must first be broken. This comes from the realization of who God is and who I really am deep down. Oh when I see his face! It breaks my heart each and every time. It is then that he offers healing and applies ointment to my wounds. What love! The God who named the stars and knows them by name also knows me by name. He cares about me and loves me with a love I can't begin to understand or comprehend. Bless the Lord my soul!!!
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