Today’s scripture: Psalm 117:1-2 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Keith Phillips):
At the beginning of each day in our office, we are required to participate in the morning conference call. Attendance is taken, and then we have “praises.” Never once have I heard a colleague say, “I praise you, O Keith, because of your kindness unto me and your faithfulness unto our patients.” We have this opportunity for “praises,” but never is the word praise used. What we do say to each other, a lot, is: “Thank you, Heather” or “I really appreciate you and what you did, Lillie” or “Rick, you went above and beyond in that difficult situation.”
I think that’s pretty much what we mean when we say, “Praise the Lord!” or in Hebrew, “Hallelujah!” This shortest psalm in the Bible begins and ends with the command (how odd that it’s a command!) to “Praise the Lord!” We are encouraged to express our gratitude to God, our appreciation of who God is, our recognition of all that God has done. The psalmist specifically mentions God’s steadfast love and God’s faithfulness.
I don’t know about you but I find that praising God comes naturally for me. At least now. Maybe it hasn’t always. I had thought about counting all the times today when I expressed my love to God or when I thanked God for something. I couldn’t do it; it was far too often. When I walked my dog this morning, I saw the universe of stars still out, I heard the wind blowing through the dried leaves, I even enjoyed the skiff of snow on the grass.
And I thanked God this morning. I thanked God that I woke up again. I thanked God this afternoon that I was able to be with a family as the mother was moving into eternity. I thanked God that I work with highly capable and caring nurses, aides, and social workers. God is good to me in ways that God is good to all of humanity, and God is good to me in ways that are particularly unique to me. I find it second- nature to express my gratitude.
By the way, this psalm was not written for the Israelites, for those who knew that they were God’s chosen people. The first verse says, “Praise the Lord, all you nations!” The Hebrew is goyim, or Gentiles. As I tell families with whom I minister, we are all blessed; but we’re doubly blessed when we know it. And we’re triply blessed when we let God know that we know it. Praise the Lord!
Thought for the day: Over and over and over again: “Thank you, Lord! I love you!”
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.