Focus

Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.

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Read

Psalm 89:1-18 (NRSV)

I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever;
with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to my servant David:
‘I will establish your descendants forever,
and build your throne for all generations.’”Selah

Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,
your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.
For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?
Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,
a God feared in the council of the holy ones,
great and awesome above all that are around him?
O LORD God of hosts,
who is as mighty as you, O LORD?
Your faithfulness surrounds you.
You rule the raging of the sea;
when its waves rise, you still them.
You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours;
the world and all that is in it—you have founded them.
The north and the south—you created them;
Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
You have a mighty arm;
strong is your hand, high your right hand.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
Happy are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O LORD, in the light of your countenance;
they exult in your name all day long,
and extol your righteousness.
For you are the glory of their strength;
by your favor our horn is exalted.
For our shield belongs to the LORD,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.

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Reflect

Today’s reading is a testament to God’s faithfulness to us. We see the word faithfulness five times throughout the first 18 verses of this psalm and countless other times throughout the Bible. Each time we encounter this word, we are reminded that God’s truth, promises, and faithfulness are timeless, constant, and renewed each day. Can we say the same about our faithfulness to God? Can we say that it is constant and unwavering? I, for one, cannot. Yet God continues to be faithful to me and all of us, even when we are not faithful.

In this psalm, David says he will proclaim God’s faithfulness to all generations, and he will declare that God’s faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. What David means is God’s faith will never change. God’s faithfulness is steadfast and unwavering, and for that I am thankful.

I leave you with the words from Great Is Thy Faithfulness penned by Thomas O. Chisholm. “Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed thy hand hath provided; great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.”

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Pray

Lord, thank you for your steadfast and unwavering love and faithfulness, faithfulness we can share with all generations who follow. Amen.

Go with God.