Praise Awaits You

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:

1        Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;

    to you our vows will be fulfilled.

2        You who answer prayer,

    to you all people will come.

3        When we were overwhelmed by sins,

    you forgave our transgressions.

4        Blessed are those you choose

    and bring near to live in your courts!

We are filled with the good things of your house,

    of your holy temple.

5        You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,

    God our Savior,

the hope of all the ends of the earth

    and of the farthest seas,

6        who formed the mountains by your power,

    having armed yourself with strength,

7        who stilled the roaring of the seas,

    the roaring of their waves,

    and the turmoil of the nations.

8        The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;

    where morning dawns, where evening fades,

    you call forth songs of joy.

9        You care for the land and water it;

    you enrich it abundantly.

The streams of God are filled with water

    to provide the people with grain,

    for so you have ordained it.

10      You drench its furrows and level its ridges;

    you soften it with showers and bless its crops.

11      You crown the year with your bounty,

    and your carts overflow with abundance.

12      The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;

    the hills are clothed with gladness.

13      The meadows are covered with flocks

    and the valleys are mantled with grain;

    they shout for joy and sing. (Psalm 65, NIV)

REFLECTIONS:

In this time of year when we intentionally pause to give thanks, let us take a few moments to praise God for the many ways he has lavishly blessed our lives. He is worthy of our praise! This psalm lists a number of reasons God is worthy of praise—he answers our prayer, he forgives our sins, he invites us into fellowship with himself. Not only does he bless his people, he blesses the entire world. All of creation is in his care. Our God delights to graciously and generously pour out blessing upon blessing. He fills our lives and our world with abundance, and causes all creation to "shout for joy and sing." He is worthy of our praise. Today, let us pause to give thanks and to celebrate his goodness.

POINT TO PONDER:

Take a few moments to consider the manifold blessings God has poured out upon your life. Consider making a list throughout the day, noting the blessings surrounding your life. Regardless of what our circumstances may look like, our God is good and he delights to bring good things into our life. May God give us eyes to see his many blessings. 

WHO AM I?

I am Tres Sansom, and I thought it might be good to keep things short and simple today.