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 148 New Revised Standard Version (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!

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Reflect

When I was in seminary, I read every book that was assigned to me, just not every word in the book. Who has time for that? I learned to read the preface, first sentence and the last sentence of each paragraph, anything bold or italicized, and any thing with numbers in it. This technique worked very well for me. Now, when I read things, I always look at the first and last sentence as the most important.

If I look at this scripture through the lenses of first and last being most important, I see that praising the Lord is the most important thing. Think about it, when we have a relationship in our lives that is filled with thanks and affirmation, we feel more comfortable in that relationship. Wouldn’t it be fun if our relationship with God was filled with that? Where we constantly look around us and praise God for what is going on in our lives. As we enter into a new year, let us think about ways to praise God in all that we do.

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Pray

Lord, thank you for all of the Good that you have done in my life over this year. Guide my thoughts in 2020 to be focused on the joy of praising you. To look around each day and see your goodness.
Amen

Go with God!