Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.

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Read

Psalm 68:1-10, 19-20 (NRSV)

Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered;
let those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
as wax melts before the fire,
let the wicked perish before God.
But let the righteous be joyful;
let them exult before God;
let them be jubilant with joy.

Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds—
his name is the LORD—
be exultant before him.

Father of orphans and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
God gives the desolate a home to live in;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious live in a parched land.

O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain
at the presence of God, the God of Sinai,
at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad;
you restored your heritage when it languished;
your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
…

Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah
Our God is a God of salvation,
and to GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death.

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Reflect

When I was in college, I spent the summers working at a church camp in Virginia. The central lodge at this camp sat on top of a hill. One of my favorite activities was to sit on the porch and watch approaching storms. The might and power that rolled in with the storm clouds was amazing. God’s power was evident in the lightning, downpour, and winds that whipped through the fields below. What a mighty God we have!

This psalm is full of praises to God because of God’s mighty power and great acts. But the psalm doesn’t stop at describing God’s greatness, it also tells us about God’s great love. The same God who “rides upon the clouds” and makes the earth quake and the heavens pour down rain is the same God who cares about people who are orphaned, widowed, homeless, and imprisoned.

God’s greatness comes not only from the storms and wonders that come from God’s hands, but from the fact that “Our God is a God of salvation” who “daily bears us up.” There is nothing more amazing than knowing that the same God who can cause mighty acts also cares for each of us individually. We praise God not because of what God can do, but because of who God is—a God who cares for and takes care of everyone who is in need.

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Pray

Mighty God, you are marvelous and worthy of all of our praise. We praise you for the wonders that you have done. We thank you for always taking care of us and all of your children. Amen.