Reasons To Be Glad
OPENING PRAYER:
Loving Lord, you alone can save, satisfy, and strengthen my inner being. You are my source of strength and inner healing. I love you Lord.
1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the Lord with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the Lord is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars[a];
he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the people of the world revere him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The Lord foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the Lord looks down
and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth—
15 he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.
Footnotes
[a] Psalm 33:7 Or sea as into a heap
Psalm 33
REFLECT:
Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh as you come to God’s Word.
Being grateful is one of the best ways to lift your spirit when the going is tough. Resilient people know that giving thanks in the midst of difficult circumstances lifts your spirit, gives glory to God, and enables you to keep going. Search this psalm for reasons to be glad today. Here are some ideas.
For the character of God – who is faithful in all he does (v 4). Consider the ways in which he has shown himself to be faithful to you.
For the word of the Lord – by which the heavens were made (v 6). Why not make time today to look up and see the beauty of the sky or stand outside when it is dark and see the universe that he brought into being?
For the reliability of the purposes of God (v 11). Even now, his plans are being worked out in the world, and his plans for your life will come to pass in his good time. Why not express your trust in him?
For the care that God has for us (vs 18,19), watching over us and providing for us.
APPLY:
Thank him for his unfailing love. Remember times when God has clearly helped or protected you.
CLOSING PRAYER:
May your unfailing love rest upon me, O Lord, even as I put my trust in you.
Syndicated via Scripture Union. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.