January 20th - Reflection

Reading
Psalm 145 (NRSV)
Praise God's faithfulness

I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you,
and praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall laud your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,
and I will declare your greatness.
They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all,
and his compassion is over all that he has made.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your faithful shall bless you.
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,
and tell of your power,
to make known to all people your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all his words,
and gracious in all his deeds.
The Lord upholds all who are falling,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand,
satisfying the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is just in all his ways,
and kind in all his doings.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;
he also hears their cry, and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.

Reflection
Do you ever wonder what it would be like for all the works of the LORD to give thanks? What are all the works of God? I don't even think I can begin to fathom what that would contain or entail. So to even wonder what all those works giving thanks, blows my mind. What about all the works giving praise to God? What would that look like. I think of some of the stories in Revelation for that one. But the only way I can begin to internalize the thought is through my own imagination. Every one of the ways that I have seen God, have seen His actions, have seen His creations, every one that I know of and every one of these works and creations that I have heard from others...all of this thanking and praising God! And that's just a couple specks of the beginning of understanding of God. I can't imagine what it would be like. But even with what I can fathom, it will and is glorious. So why not join in on the song of thanksgiving and praise this day? Join the crowd! Give thanks to God our Savior, Creator, Redeemer and Lover. Give thanks and praise God's name...today...tomorrow...and forever. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
As I join in the countless other creatures great and small hear my song of thanks and praise, my Lord. ---Amen