It’s here again-another Monday.
For some of us that means an eager anticipation for what lays ahead in the days to come. A brand new week. A very appropriate sense of thankfulness for the day and the week to come.
For some of us, another Monday means facing another week of working hard, of trials, of discouragement. Maybe you have a doctor’s appointment you are dreading. Or maybe you are just tired and the week looms large before you.
Some of us are somewhere in between. Tired yet grateful for another week. Discouraged but hopeful. Overwhelmed yet trusting God to sort the week out.
I would have to say that I’m in that third group. And I would dare say that the majority are in that third group. A week of meetings, documents, back-to-school activities, doctor appointments and preparation for travel are all on my calendar and to-do list. And I acknowledge the week is beyond me without the help of my Savior.
Yesterday during the sermon at Seaford Baptist Church, I was introduced to a verse I hadn’t seen before. It’s found in Psalm 145, verse 2: Every day I will Bless You, and praise Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you God. Every day I will praise your name. The Psalmist is expressing blessing and praise to God, not just for the moment, not just because he woke up encouraged that particular morning. No, this is a consistent action, occurring every day. Regardless of circumstances. There are no “if’s”; like “if I am well, I will bless you every day”. There are no “but’s”; “Every day I will bless you, but then you have to bless me God.” No, no demands. Only blessing and praises.
I woke up overwhelmed by work. Discouraged facing another week of pushing forward; of fighting for joy. And then I remembered this verse. And this verse is what I prayed this morning. I become so self-focused in my prayers, that my prayers of praise to God seem almost routine. Almost out of duty. Heaven forbid! I don’t want them to be like that! But circumstances and sin cause me to focus on my needs before God, instead of focusing on who He is.
Every day I will bless you and praise your name. Not just on this challenging Monday, but every day. Not just on Sunday in corporate worship, but every day.
And forever and ever. We were created to bless and praise our creator-every day. Forever. Does this worry you? Does this scare you that you’ll become bored with such a life? I assure you that, that will not be the case. For why would the God of the universe who loves each one of us individually accept our praise if it were to eventually become stale. No, when we go home–when we see Him face to face–our souls will magnify the Lord, just as Mary sang about as she held the baby Jesus in her womb.