I confess that my tank feels pretty low as I write. I want to feel these words. I want to be in awe, to be as the psalmist in overflowing repetitious reverence for God. I just feel dry. My heart feels restless and my body feels exhausted. I don’t feel stirred up to praise and feel that any semblance of it would take a mustered up effort.
But maybe that effort is part of what God delights in. I don’t feel and yet I choose to love. I choose to praise. I try.
If I were the psalmist, what would my cry of praise be for? He knows God to lift the low to the greatest heights and to give the barren woman the gift of childbearing. What do I know him to do? What have I seen him do lately?
In remembering the answers to these questions from my own life, I may not have to muster up reverence. Let me try…
The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust He gives me the strength to carry-on
and lifts the needy from the ash heap, through the day with my two-year-old.
to make them sit with princes, He has given me that two-year-old.
with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home, He has kept him healthy.
making her the joyous mother of children. He has kept all of us healthy.
Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
As I add to the list, my heart does start to soften. I feel childish for taking these gifts for granted. I recognize that I tend to acknowledge these things as “I” triumphs rather than “He” gifts.
I muster up strength, I have a healthy son.
This exercise in the psalm has helped me to simply acknowledge the gifts, which in turn is acknowledging Him.
If you choose to also take a second, fill in some things He has done this morning or day so far. I pray that what you find will be of some encouragement to you in your day and week.
Despite my weakness, He is still worthy.
Emilee O'Neil