Daily Devotion – February 2, 2022 – Dr. Pat Taylor Ellison

Psalm 138
138:1 I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;
138:2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything.
138:3 On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.
138:4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth.
138:5 They shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
138:6 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away.
138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.
138:8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

The psalmist here is confident that the Lord is seen by other nations as the holy God, the righteous God, the God of truth and power. Not only that, the psalmist believes this God of power and truth, recognized by all other nations, is protecting the little old psalmist himself or herself.

To be big and mighty and the God of truth is something grand. To also be the God who protects and preserves the lowly so that each lowly person can fulfill God’s intended purposes, that is deep and kind and steadfast love.

Yes, we believe in a big and grand God, and a deep and kind and steadfast God. How much time do we spend considering how blessed we are to be God’s beloved children? How much time do we spend being grateful for these blessings? How much time do we spend praising this God who created us and who looks out for us and protects us? What if each of us chose to spend even ten minutes every night before bed being grateful and praising God? How might such a use of our time change our lives?

Gracious God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for being both big and small, both grand and deep. Help us remember to be grateful for being your blessed children, protected by you.  Amen.