Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

---

Read

Psalm 148 (NRSV)

Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!

Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for he commanded and they were created.
He established them forever and ever;
he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

Praise the LORD from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!

Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and women alike,
old and young together!

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the LORD!

---

 

Reflect

“Let (them) praise the name of the Lord….” Just who are the “them” about whom the psalmist wrote?

I have regular appointments with a medical doctor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Over the years, I have learned to book the first appointment after lunch. If I am early for that appointment, I am usually finished pretty quickly.

My schedule is almost always full, but on this particular day I decided to drive to UTK earlier than normal…find a parking place…and walk over to the cafeteria to grab a quick lunch before my appointment. As I walked into the foyer of the Heart Center, I was met with music, heavenly-sounding string music. There sat the “them” in a diagonal box of four. It was the four corners of my world, and it surely was that for all those who were passing through the building that day. Volunteers from Knoxville Symphony Orchestra were offering music for healing.

I never made it to the cafeteria that day. Instead I grabbed a sandwich and coffee off a snack cart and bathed in the musical healing until time to go. I met the “them” that day as they praised the Lord with music.

---

Pray

Lord, may we be the “them” in the world, praising you so that we might bring healing mercies to those around us. In the power of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Go with God.