Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1
God of gods, Lord of lords,
We give thanks to you, for you are good,
and your steadfast love endures forever.
We give thanks for the great wonders you alone can do:
for your steadfast love endures forever.
We give thanks to you for striking down oppressive enemies:
for your steadfast love endures forever.
We give thanks to you for countless rescues:
for your steadfast love endures forever.
We give thanks to you for the inheritance you have given us:
for your steadfast love endures forever.
We give thanks to you for your faithful provision:
We give thanks to you, the God of heaven,
for your steadfast love endures forever.
In Jesus’ faithfully loving name. Amen.
Read Psalm 136.
Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage is the author of Preparing for Glory: Biblical Answers to 40 Questions on Living and Dying in Hope of Heaven.
(affiliate link)
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17
Lord,
We believe; help our unbelief.
We believe you have already come into our midst
in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
We believe you are a mighty one
who has already saved us from our sins
through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But in the next line of this magnificent verse,
we stutter and stumble.
We think that maybe you will rejoice in us
some day in the future
when we are more holy,
that you will love us
some day in the future
when we never sin again,
that you will exult in us with loud singing
some day in the future
when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.
But that’s not what Scripture tells us.
The gospel good news
for all who trust in Jesus
is that right this minute,
you are rejoicing over us,
right this minute
you are quieting us with your love,
right this minute
and you are exulting over us with loud singing.
You saved us.
You love us.
You delight in us.
You sing extra-loud over us,
like the five-year-old who loves to sing
at the top of his lungs
because he’s so happy.
Help us today to sit quietly
and listen for the sound
of your delight in us,
and may that delight
change the way we live and love
today and every day.
In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.
Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage is the author of Preparing for Glory: Biblical Answers to 40 Questions on Living and Dying in Hope of Heaven.
(affiliate link)
