Psalm 135:1-7; 14
Shout praises to the LORD! You are his servants, so praise his name. All who serve in the temple of the LORD our God, come and shout praises. Praise the name of the LORD! He is kind and good. The LORD is much greater than any other god. He chose the family of Jacob and the people of Israel for his very own.
He does as he chooses in heaven and on earth and deep in the sea. The LORD makes the clouds rise from far across the earth, and he makes lightning to go with the rain. Then from his secret place he sends out the wind.
The LORD will bring justice and show mercy to all who serve him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Since November 8th, we have received 12 inches of rain in our little corner of the world. Because we live high atop a bluff, what the ground cannot absorb rushed down a next-door creek bed and spilled into the river below us. Others were not so lucky, and friends of mine have spent several days retrieving items that tried to float away and cleaning up the muck, mud and water that filled their homes and businesses. When this sort of thing happens, people can have a hard time finding praises to shout to the LORD! After all, surely the God who makes lightning to go with the rain could send a little less at one time… right?
The key to staying positive in times of challenge, difficulty, or downright disaster and tragedy is remembering who God really is… and WHY we praise Him. Yes, God can control how much rain we get. Yes, God can heal the sick and prevent accidents that cause injury and death. Surely God can change the course of a tornado or prevent an earthquake. But God also has the power to bless us abundantly… to provide us with food, clothing, shelter, a job, family, friends… and most importantly… Eternal Life!
For every time we feel sorry for ourselves and ask “Why, LORD, why?” there are dozens of times that God worked on our behalf and we never even noticed. We need to remind ourselves of this. We need to remember that God always has our best interest at heart, even when we cannot readily see what He has done for us.
So praise God today, no matter what your circumstances. Give Him honor and glory for the countless ways He shows up in your life each and every day. Recognize His power and His unending grace and mercy. Shout praises to the LORD! You are indeed His servants… so go ahead and praise His name.
©2011 Debbie Robus
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