Devotion • October 19
Today’s Scripture Reading
Psalm 113
Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord;
praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time on and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations
and his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord! (NRSV)
Reflection
One thing I love about the psalms is that they speak to the heart. This psalm begins and ends with “Praise the Lord!” Giving praise to the Lord in prayer increases my mindfulness and my gratitude. Through praise I become more mindful of the wonders of creation and nature. Gazing at the stars in the night sky increases my mindfulness of the mystery of this universe and God’s presence within it. God’s brilliance shown in simple things such as the flavor of a nectarine and fruits in season, or the sunshine and variety of flowers, increases my gratitude for the gifts of creation and the beauty that surrounds us (that reflects God’s beauty). God sustains us, inspires us, and renews us with these gifts. Praise of God increases our reverence for the life and gifts we have been given.
This psalm also challenges me to consider how I can be a “servant of the Lord.” It affirms God’s lifting up of the lowly and needy. It calls forth from me an awareness of the needs that surround me and ways in which I can be a servant and messenger of the Lord as a healing and generous presence to those who need it. Acts of service become ways I participate in God’s activity in the world. We become Christ’s hands and feet.
Finally, this psalm challenges me to soul search and consider “What needs to be lifted up within me?” Shining compassion on that part of myself is one way in which the rich journey of our healing can take place. When we find inner healing, God is truly present and to be praised!
Prayer
Gracious God, source of creation, stir our hearts with your love for the lowly and needy, and open our minds to the wonder of your Presence in all things. Praise the Lord! Amen.
Written by John Moulder, Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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