 As we reflect back on the strange and challenging year of 2020, and look forward to the year to come, let us do so with intentional gratitude, hope, and discernment. Today we will read through Psalm 103 in The Message translation. If you have time reread it in the ESV translation as well. As we journey through the chapter I want you to pause where indicated in italics, praise God, and discern the status of your heart and habits. No New Year’s resolutions needed (unless that is part of your yearly rhythm)… just gratitude and open hearts to God’s guiding.
Psalm 103 (The Message) O my soul, bless GOD. From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name! O my soul, bless GOD, don’t forget a single blessing! Name several unique blessings in your life that occurred during 2020. He forgives your sins—everyone. He heals your diseases—everyone. He redeems you from hell—saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown. He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal. He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence. Take time to thank God for the personal ways He has redeemed your life and gives you eternal hope. GOD makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet. He showed Moses how he went about his work, opened up his plans to all Israel. GOD is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he’s rich in love. He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins. As parents feel for their children, GOD feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we’re made of mud. Write down your praises to God for his steadfast love, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, and intimate involvement in your life over the last year. Men and women don’t live very long; like wildflowers they spring up and blossom, But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly, leaving nothing to show they were here. GOD’s love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him, Making everything right for them and their children as they follow his Covenant ways and remember to do whatever he said. Reflect on your finiteness and God’s infinite love and power in your life as you head into this next year. What does it mean for you to follow in His Covenant ways this next year? GOD has set his throne in heaven; he rules over us all. He’s the King! So bless GOD, you angels, ready and able to fly at his bidding, quick to hear and do what he says. Bless GOD, all you armies of angels, alert to respond to whatever he wills. Bless GOD, all creatures, wherever you are-- everything and everyone made by GOD. And you, O my soul, bless GOD! Praise God for His rule and reign over every aspect of creation. Praise Him for his rule and reign over your life. Ask Him to give you awareness and gratitude for His intimate involvement in your journey through this next year. Petition Him to make known to you how you can best glorify Him and follow in His Covenant ways this next year. Link to Psalm 103 (ESV) Thank you for joining us in dwelling richly in God’s Word over 2020. We look forward to what next year brings as we ask God to use this little site to bring Him glory. Our desire is for more people to deeply encounter God’s Word and be transformed by it in order to live lives that exude His Word, that dwells richly within, and glorify Him. The New Year is a familiar time to set new rhythms or reengage old ones that we know are good for our souls. Please take a moment to share our site with others who are reflecting on the year that has passed and looking for hopeful rhythms in the year to come. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 Comments are closed.
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