Ps 146 begins and ends in the same way...Praise the LORD! We start out in verse 1-2 with a commitment to praise. What stopped me here...as silly as it might sound...were the words, “O my soul”. You hear that a lot in the Psalms. Sometimes I can read a phrase again and again and really not think about its meaning. This was NOT one of those times. The Psalmist is exhorting himself to practice what he preached! Sometimes that is soooo hard. My soul this morning was not in a place that lends itself easily to praise...a place of sorrow and grief.
Truth be told there IS much ongoing heartache and sorrow in my life that I am powerless to remedy. The underlying song and background melody of my heart is joyful gratitude for all my God has done, but often my immediate presenting emotion is grief. In the past I have fought hard against this grief allowing myself to be deceived into thinking it wasn’t a big deal...that my grief wasn’t really that hard or even that sad...that I was just being a baby. Condemnation is from the enemy. Life IS hard and very often filled with sorrow. There are and will be seasons where“Sorrow and Suffering” will be constant companions. We ALL will face sorrows here on this earth...the difference is whether we face them with Him or without Him. I am so grateful that by His grace, I face my sorrows with Him! AND THAT is where I began praising my God this morning.
I am grateful, Father, that You are always with me...that You are my ever present hope and my never failing help. I am grateful that whatever I go through in this life, I go through with You, my God, who works all of it together for my good and Your glory.
I am grateful that You don’t change...You are the same yesterday, today and forever. I am grateful for Your word to me....it is my never failing comfort. I am grateful that You are my God who “keeps faith forever”. (Ps 146:6) None of Your promises fail...They are eternal in the heavens. Truly, Father, Your steadfast love to me never ends. I am grateful that my trials will make me more like You. I am grateful that I can look to your example of other-centered, selfless love in my grief. You were despised and rejected...and yet You were not overwhelmed in Your sorrow. In Your greatest sorrow You poured Yourself out in the most magnificent display of love mankind has ever seen! You suffered for us (me) and died so that we (I) could have the opportunity to live with You forever!
In Your sorrow Jesus, Your concern was for others. On the cross burdened with the sin and grief of all the world, Your focus was for the thief beside You, for Your mom's well being, and for forgiving those who were crucifying You. Seeing Your example and KNOWING Your love for me how can I wallow in my own sorrow...how can I not praise You!!? I will do as Your word tells me and cast my burdens on You because You care for me...I will bear another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. As I praise You this morning, my sorrow is lightened and my heart encouraged. I will press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call. What is the goal? Christlikeness in the here and now...What is the prize? Christlikeness in Heaven.
Finally, I am thankful that it is You my God who works in me both to will and to do for Your good pleasure. I am grateful that You will complete the good work You began in me.
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” --Matthew 11:28-30
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.--2nd Corinthians 3:18
