One Minute Devotional: February 2013

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Psalm 150

Today we reach the last of the psalms, Psalm 150. Although I have enjoyed journeying with you through the psalms and writing these devotionals in general, it is time for a change. I am going to do something new. Not sure what it will look like yet -- I am still in the planning stages. But, I won't leave you stranded! I invite you to look back on previous devotionals and maybe even pick your favorites. Let me know if you have any suggestions for future devotionals. You can also check out my book review blog:

www.faithinbooks.blogspot.com

When I have followed God's lead on my next step, I will let you know.

May God bless you and keep you!

Amelia

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord! Psalm 150 NLT

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Sing for joy!

Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. Let the praise of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands -- to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, to execute judgment written against them. This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones. Praise the Lord! Psalm 149: 5-9 NLT

What do you do to fall asleep? Count sheep? Go over the day (this is not something I recommend unless you are also giving it over to God -- too much undone stuff to keep you awake)? Daydream? Pray?

How about sing for joy?

I don’t mean literally lie in bed and sing which is actually a very difficult thing to do unless you have great lungs. Plus, you may keep others in your household awake.

What I am talking about is just be happy about all God has done for you and all of creation. Think of all the good stuff God does for you on a daily basis. Perhaps there are particular God moments in the past day or week that you can focus on. Maybe a scripture comes to mind -- something of joy, hope or promise. Be joyful because of God, not because of yourself.

I challenge you to sing for joy as you lie in your bed tonight!

Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. Let the praise of God be in their mouths. Praise the Lord! Amen.

Monday, February 11, 2013

God delights in you

O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King. Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Psalm 149: 2-4 NLT

How does God delight in you?

Most of the time I think God just looks at me and shakes God’s head. Or holds God’s head like God can’t believe I just did that or didn’t do something else. The word delight is most often replaced with disappointed.

So, does God delight in me?

The psalmist says that God does delight in God’s people. God likes it when we honor our leaders, praise God’s name, and have some partying and dancing in God’s honor. Music to praise God by is also a good thing. God’s delight means that God crowns the humble with victory.

I suppose I am not so humble. And when have I really had a party for God, in God’s honor? I am also more likely to criticize our leaders (whether religious or political) than get excited about them.

God must delight in me. But only because God loves me.

Now to go plan a party. Just for God.

God, we rejoice in your presence. You delight in us far more often than we delight in you. Forgive us. Help us to rejoice and delight in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Sing to the Lord a new song

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful. Psalm 149: 1 NLT

Sing to the Lord a new song.

How I wish church folk would take that to heart! How often do churches sing the same songs over and over? I have heard of a church that simply changes the sermon title and scripture each week on the bulletin. They sing the same songs -- probably because their pianist is about 90 years old and those are the ones she knows.

Even in my church, folks are not very enthusiastic about singing something new. They might belt out the oldies but are not so great with new ones.

The psalmist says we must sing new songs to God. I like thinking of singing music as true praise -- for me it means my mind is focused on lifting my voice to God. Sure, sometimes I focus on the tune I carry or the tune the person next to me is not carrying. But I am mostly just concentrating on singing to God.

That is what praise is all about: focusing on God.

Sometime today, turn on a praise song and just belt out the words in praise to God. Make a joyful noise to our creator! And, next time you are in worship, give such enthusiasm to God while singing there as well.

We praise you with a new song, God! Amen.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Your praise in your words

Praise the Lord from the earth, you creatures of the ocean depths, fire and hail, snow and clouds, wind and weather that obey him, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and cedars, wild animals and all livestock, small scurrying animals and birds, kings of the earth and all people, rulers and judges of the earth, young men and young women, old men and children. Let them all praise the name of the Lord. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven! He has made his people strong, honoring his faithful ones -- the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord! Psalm 148: 7-14 NLT

So, why do we praise God? Is it just because God created us? Or just because God has done something for us (which is more gratitude than praise)?

The psalmist says all creation must praise God because God’s name is very great. God’s glory towers above all creation. God has made God’s people strong. God honors those who are faithful.

That is why we should praise God.

How can you praise God in your own words? Let that be your prayer for today.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Praising the Lord

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise him from the skies! Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all the armies of heaven! Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you twinkling stars! Praise him, skies above! Praise him, vapors high above the clouds! Let every created things give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being. He set them in place forever and ever. His decrees will never be revoked. Psalm 148: 1-6 NLT

The psalmist is taking to the skies in the first of this psalm. Angels, heaven’s armies, sun, moon, stars, skies, clouds, even the vapors and being asked to join in praising God. Then everything that has been created is invited to join them. What is significant about beginning praising God in the heavens and skies?

I suppose when you look up you tend to also think that anything above you is, well, above you. I am speaking in terms of authority, power and honor rather than just physically. The psalmist isn’t about to give anyone or anything a break in honoring our creator. Just because you happen to be hanging around in the heavens does not mean you get a “free” pass from glorifying God. God created you, too, just by speaking the command.

And God created you. How often to you give God praise? Sure, we thank God and ask God for stuff. But we need also spend time praising God and telling God how wonderful God is. We should bless God’s name and glorify God.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

The God of Natural Disasters?

He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes. He hurls hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? Then, at his command, it all melts. He sends winds, and the ice thaws. He has revealed his words to Jacob, his decrees and regulations to Israel. He has not done this for any other nation; they do not know his regulations. Praise the Lord! Psalm 147: 15-20 NLT

I can relate to the psalmist when he lists all these different weather patterns: snow, frost, hail, freezing cold, winds, and ice. In the last three weeks we have had snow, straight line winds and fog.

The difference is that I watch the weather patterns and local radar on the Weather Channel. The psalmist watches God. The psalmist attributes all the different weather to God. If God is the creator, then he must be in control of our weather!

In fact, the psalmist sees the destruction of weather (snow and hail for instance) as instruments of God’s punishment. If you think that is old fashioned and not considered these days, you are wrong. We once had a boat to hit and destroy our dock and sea wall at our lake property. The reason? A huge wind and wave caused this to happen. However, because the two fishermen bailed (thank goodness) from the boat before hitting, the insurance company said they would not pay us because they considered this “an act of God.” Really.

There are those who always blame natural disasters on God -- usually as a form of punishment. Yet, we don’t look to God for explanations for other events, natural or not. I don’t believe God uses natural events as punishment but I do believe God can help us create good things even when bad weather strikes. Like the gentleman who helped me get my car up the slushy hill. God is still in control!

Praise the Lord!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

What has God done?

Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For he has strengthened the bars of your gates and blessed your children within your walls. He sends peace across your nation and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat. He sends his orders to the world -- how swiftly his word flies! Psalm 147: 12-14 NLT

What has God done for the psalmist?

God has strengthened the gates of the city to protect the people within. God has blessed all the children within the city walls. God has made sure that the people throughout the nation are living in peace. God has provided not just enough to eat but the finest foods. God has send God’s orders all around the world and how quickly the nations have heard from God.

What has God done for me?

God has answered my prayers -- specifically, God took away my anger when it felt like it would overwhelm me. God has turned what seemed like a bad thing into something good -- what was a shameful secret is now in the open. God has provided for our family in terms of what we need. God has provided a loving family, friends and church members to support us and journey with us. God is so good!

Now it is your turn. What has God done for you?

God, I glorify you and praise your name! Amen!

One Minute Devotional