Hi, y’all! Did you realize it’s Wednesday again already? Sometimes I’m not so sure about this Wednesday thing. It makes me realize how fast time is flying. In some ways that’s good. In others, it needs to just slow right down. At any rate, ready or not, it’s here, and this week, we choose our favorite verses from Psalms 107-127.
Psalm 116:16-17–O Lord, surely I am Your servant, I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid, You have loosed my bonds. To You I shall offer a sacrifce of thanksgiving, and call upon the name of the Lord.
If we had any idea at all what we owe God, don’t you think it would knock us backwards to consider it? If you really sat down and gave it some thought and started counting your blessings, you wouldn’t get far before you’d realize the debt is much bigger than you’ll ever be able to pay. I mean, God is worthy of praise and thanksgiving simply because HE EXISTS. (And by the way, that’s one of the reasons I love it when He calls Himself I AM. Gives me chills. He IS. That’s all He needs to be. Think about that for a while…) But He didn’t stop at existing. He didn’t stop at making us exist. He lavished us with grace and mercy and gifts beyond our wildest dreams, even some gifts we don’t realize He’s given us.
Consider salvation. Have you ever thought about what you’ve been delivered from? Not surface thought, but deep thought? Tell me that isn’t worthy of devoting every single second of your life to Him. Some of us have been healed of diseases. Some of us have been delivered from horrors we thought we’d have to face the rest of our lives. Some of us have been freed from sins that should have been our undoing. How much do we owe Him?
We owe Him everything. Our next breath. The works of our hands. The praises from our lips. But do we give Him that? If you’re like me, chances are, you don’t. And that’s a shame. In this new year, it’s one of the things I’m working on, seeing every bit of my life in relation to God. Realizing that every single thing I do should be for Him. Giving Him my all. It’s hard. It requires a complete reprogramming of my sinful human mind. But I want it. It’s what we all should want, to be God’s servant. Read the verse again. Boy, do we ever owe Him big time…
So, share your favorites from Psalms 107-127 in the comments. Then be sure to come back next week ready to talk about what has been dubbed “Part 5b,” Psalms 128-150. Can’t wait to hear from you!
-JB
Jason says
“Tell me that isn’t worthy of devoting every single second of your life to Him.”
OK, it isn’t worthy of devoting every single second of your life to Him.
That’s completely untrue, mind you…but you asked me to tell you that. 😉
Jodie says
Alrighty then, Mr. Comedy… At least you follow directions…
Jen says
I’m gonna go with Psalm 119:105 this week.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
I can remember a time in high school (shortly after I stopped “being Catholic”) when I first heard the song that has this verse in it at my new Protestant church. I remember thinking it was a pretty song, but what on earth did it mean? Growing up, the Bibles in our house collected dust on a shelf except for the times I would pull mine down and read random sections…. knowing it held what I needed, but not knowing what it was or where to find it. That’s why the song was so confusing. A nice sentiment, but not something I could relate to.
Fast forward 10 years, and I finally get it! Thanks to my amazing pastors, the Bible studies I’ve been able to participate in, and the work God has done in my life over the last few years, His Word is comptely alive for me now. Whenever I’m *ahem* faced with tough decisions, it’s one of the first places I turn. I don’t usually aim to find something specific, but He always leads me to what He wants me to read (like Psalm 107:27-31 that I sent you last week). Life is hard enough with the “instruction manual”….. I can’t imagine walking this path without the light of God’s Word!
Jodie says
AMEN!! I wonder quite often how people even get out of bed without God. I couldn’t do it.
Carol J. Garvin says
In some of my difficult times I search the Psalms and always discover something that’s exactly what I need to hear at that moment. When a daughter died just before Christmas 1996 I was drawn to Psalm 121, and I don’t think I can single out one verse. Here in the outskirts of Vancouver we are sheltered by the mountains of the Coastal Range. The majestic Rockies aren’t far away. And all of Psalm 121 sings to me of the absolute power and at the same time the tender love of my God:
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Jodie says
I am so sorry about your daughter, Carol. I am sure that is a pain beyond words. In light of that, the Psalm you chose is incredibly rich and brought tears to my eyes. I can feel that power sitting right here. Thanks so much for sharing that…
Dawn Lucowitz says
Psalm 116:14 – I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
I’ve been learning a lot this past year about myself and my faith. The more I have learned the more I understand I need to share. I’ve learned that having faith is more then just believing. Loving the lord and loving people is not something you can keep to yourself, nor is your faith. As I continue to grow on this journey I learned that I must share my faith more and more everyday with many people as possible. I understand it’s more important to share my faith and love through actions more than words.
I see his verse basically saying we need to go out and share. We must share our faith in front of God and all of His people and not just in the privacy of our homes.
Jodie says
Something I need to be better about myself… You had to go and convict me, didn’t you? 🙂