Focus

Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for peace at this time.

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Read

Psalm 98 (NRSV)

O sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory.
The LORD has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

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Reflect

My younger daughter, who is now 5 years old, loves to sing. She sings in the car, she sings when we go on walks, she sings while she swings. Claire loves to sing. Now, when I say sing, you may assume that she is singing real songs—nursery rhymes, songs from the radio, church songs. Nope, not Claire. Claire sings the thoughts in her mind to the melody of her heart. This drives some people in our lives nuts, but I love it. I love to hear her little voice sing the deep thoughts of her soul (and sometime the not so deep thoughts). I love to hear her reflect her world through the melody of song, so pure and innocent.

The days that she will be uninhibited enough to sing the made up songs of her heart are limited. As we grow older, we become stifled by our desires to fit into the world around us. How great would it be if all of us, young and old alike, felt free enough to burst out into song from the glory of God. How great if we felt comfortable enough to make a joyful noise, right in the middle of our day when we felt blessed by God? I hope today that you find a way to share aloud God’s glory in your life.

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Pray

God of all creation, free us from the inhibitions of the world around us. Open our hearts to your glory. Help us to make a joyful noise to you for the mighty blessings that we receive at your hand. Help us to see the roaring sea, the rolling hills, and your love, faithfulness, and righteousness in the world you created. Help us to sing a new and glorious song from the depths of our heart. Amen

Go with God.