“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High; to declare Your steadfast love in the morning, and Your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.” Psalm 92:1-3
Devotional Thought For The Day
Wow! In addition to the flooding and devastation of the past week in our part of Colorado, it rained hard all day yesterday and is still misting a bit this morning. The shock of what occurred in our area is just starting to sink in, especially as we are more closely aware of the “life impact” suffered by so many people who have lost homes and businesses. While the immediate violent danger of raging floods has subsided, there are other dangers from polluted waters and damage to roads and nature, and great challenges in trying to reorganize lives back to some sort of temporary “normal” as work begins to repair and salvage property and community. The whole town of Lyons Colorado has been evacuated indefinitely – a very vibrant, close community with a long history, nearly 3,000 people. Some of the smaller mountain communities above Lyons are also evacuated indefinitely. It will be a long process – keep all of these people in your prayers, please.
Yet there are numerous reasons for us to “give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to Your Name.” Indeed, His steadfast love and faithfulness continues day and night. We remain sure and certain of His gracious forgiveness and mercy, joyful and optimistic of His blessings in this life and of His gift of eternal life soon to come. While much has been destroyed and altered much more remains intact; while many have been deeply troubled many more are able to help and sustain and nurture those impacted. There is time and there are resources to rebuild and recover much of what has been lost. It is indeed a great morning to give thanks to the LORD and to give Him praise! May His blessings be upon all those now working to clean up, repair, and restore these communities.
Music is mentioned by the psalmist – to be utilized in praising and thanking the LORD. Lute, lyre, and harp are probably not exactly the instruments of choice for most people and most congregations today. We actually realized the epitome of instrumentation with the organ, although with electronics and digital tones we might be able to surpass even the great depth and grandeur of the organ. Regardless, it is not the specific instrument that matters, but that music – that joyful and uplifting gift of God – be put into the service of praising and thanking God for His wondrous blessings. This past Sunday we were blessed to hear hand bells and choir in addition to wonderful organ pieces and hymns. All of this is the blessedness of congregation – the gifts and talents God gives to each of us for the common good and our common enjoyment; and the LORD was praised!
Knowing His love and faithfulness, we now are moved to show this same love and faithfulness in caring for others, especially those who are in great need. An immense movement of compassion and care is already building and being exercised in our area for those whose circumstances have changed dramatically for the worse. May the LORD continue to motivate this love and bless it, so that many others are touched by it and called to acknowledge His love and goodness along with us! “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” [Rom. 8:28] So it is always “good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to Your Name.”
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, we do not know all the good that You have planned for us, and that You are accomplishing in all that we experience. It is hard for us to be thankful, and to remember to praise You for Your love and faithfulness in times of devastation and disaster. Help us to grow in faith, and for Your people to exercise compassion and love toward all who are in need – that through us Your love may touch them. Remind us to turn back to You in thanks and praise when the disaster has passed and recovery has come. Amen.