Praise the LORD, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD.
Psalm 117
This short Psalm says a great deal in the brief focus it gives us. Always, we have no reason to do anything but praise God FOR His love is great toward us and that is eternally true – from eternity past to eternity future – even if we don’t feel that or see it at a given moment.
Some days we are happy with our lives – praise the Lord for his great eternal love toward you.
Some days we are disappointed with our lives – praise the Lord for his great eternal love toward you.
Getting our minds to focus on the eternal always great love of God toward us rather than our temporary situation – our light and momentary troubles (2 Corinthians 4:17) – is what it means to have faith. Faith that God is Lord of our lives in all things and that he works all things to the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28)
When we can do this, we are free even in the difficult moments to look confidently for God’s blessing and glory to emerge. When we do this in the midst of the people of the world – who are running around with their hands waving in fear, they are amazed at our confidence and want to know the great God of ours whose love is eternal. (1 Peter 2:12)
Father, this day, help me to live in the constant moment of your eternal love toward me and all men. Give me right orientation in all the tasks of the day to see your love transforming each moment and to praise you for it.