Are You Rejoicing or Bemoaning Today?
August 17, 2023
1 Comment
Are You Rejoicing or Bemoaning Today?
By Brooke Holt
"Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!" Psalm 105:3
While walking the dog yesterday, I stopped to talk with a neighbor. After catching up, our conversation took a turn as she questioned what was happening in the world today. She expressed feeling distressed over the challenges my family has faced throughout the past 14 months. We bemoaned the state of our world, the lack of faith we see demonstrated, and the way the media drives us to live in constant fear.
What began as a very positive, joyful conversation of catching up became a conversation of doom and gloom. Thankfully, my neighbor brought hope into our despair. She shared about the sermon she heard that Sunday. The preacher exhorted his listeners to choose to think about things that are good, holy, and uplifting – things that lead to faith, life, and hope. Her act of simply sharing these words completely changed the tone of our conversation. We shifted from despondency to joy, hope, and a shared faith.
Just as that preacher’s message called my neighbor and me to change our focus, the psalmist calls us to glorify God, to recognize he is above all, and to acknowledge that he alone is worthy of our praise and adoration. When the psalmist says to “glory is his holy name”, he means we are to recognize the Lord is set apart. He is unlike anything else in this world; he is above the mess of the world as he alone has an eternal perspective and plan of redemption for his people.
As children of God, he calls us to rejoice not bemoan. The time has come to shift our focus from the challenges of this world to the glory of God. Let us look to the Lord, cry out to him for the healing of our land, and then trust that he is worthy of our praise, even in challenging times.
As we set our eyes on him, our hearts move from despondency to rejoicing. Not only will our spirits be lifted, but the world around us will see something greater in us. Every challenge you face provides an opportunity to display God’s glory and goodness to a broken world desperately in need of hope. Remind yourself today to rejoice!
Reflection:
Take some time to Glory in his holy name, to seek the Lord, and to rejoice in him. It will do your heart, mind, and body such good! We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Related Resource:
Follow the ancient way of the Psalms and find the life God has for you. A model for vibrant worship, the Psalms provide practical wisdom to traverse the circuitous path of life with trust and hope. Pilgrim’s Path: A Study of the Psalms traces our spiritual walk with God—from discovery and delight, through doubt and disappointment, into joyful confidence. Whether used for individual or group study, Pilgrim’s Path is for everyone who seeks to know and love God more and find life in him.
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Judy Drake
August 18, 2023
Great devotional today. We all need it.