Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 11:1-12:18, Acts 28, Psalms 9:1-12, Proverbs 19:1-3
“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” (Psalms 9:1-2)
We live in a world full of hate. Anger. Rage. Violence. At least that’s what the media would have us believe. They self-select stories based in no small part on the outrage they will generate. Social media platforms have become vents for bitterness. The amount of negativity we are exposed to on a daily basis is enormous. No wonder the “happiness index” in the United States continues to decline with each passing year. And yet the truth of the matter is this…there has never been a better time to be alive as a human being. Yes, some humans are better off than others but as a species overall, we are thriving by every measure. There has never been a safer time to be alive. Yes, some communities are safer than others but again, by every measure, because of advanced healthcare, human rights advocacy, etc., as a species we’ve never been more safe. Why then are we so anxious and afraid?
The Psalmist lived at a time of great insecurity. The ancient near east was full of violence, suffering, and pain. Food insecurity was an everyday reality for most people. Many babies died in childbirth. Medical care was non-existent. Human rights unknown. Days off, vacation, retirement were foreign concepts because you had to work every single day if you were going to survive. Layer in all the injustices of the ancient world and the harsh criminal codes. The periodic raids of foreign tribes. And the slavery and oppression one experienced should one be defeated in battle. It was a brutal time.
And yet the Psalmist finds a way to “thank God with his whole heart.” How in the world in the midst of all his turmoil, suffering, and pain. In the midst of his struggles, anxieties, and fears can he find the strength to thank God for his blessings? David is wise. He does not know the future. He lives with daily uncertainty. He’s lived on the run. He’s had to fight his way free from his enemies. He knows what it’s like to face death. But David has also seen the salvation of God. He has seen God perform miracles and signs and wonders. Show up when all hope is lost. Snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Come to his rescue when things looked very bleak. And as he looks back on those events in his life, he finds his hope renewed. His joy restored. His confidence soars because he knows God is with him.
The simple act of counting your blessings on a regular basis is a powerful one. Looking back over the course of your life and reflecting not the many ways God has spoken to you. Revealed Himself to you. Saved you. Delivered you. Blessed you. I was talking to one of my children the other day. They struggle with anxiety and fear. Growing up has them frightened. They aren’t sure they’re going to make it. They were starting to spin out and get very negative and I simply asked them to count the blessings in their life. A great family. Good friends. A home to live in. Food to eat. A car to drive. A job that pays at least some of the bills. We talked about the many experiences they’ve had and the things they’ve seen. They’ve been on mission trips. They know those less fortunate live. They’ve seen suffering up close and personal.
The more we talked, the more encouraged they became. Pretty soon we were laughing and joking and talking about the future with little to no fear at all. When was the last time you sat down and counted the blessings in your life? Recounted all the things God has done for you over the course of your life? When was the last time you turned off cable news and took a break from social media? Intentionally shut down the doomsday voices of our culture so you could listen to the still, small voice of God? Take some time today and claim this promise for your life, “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalms 9:9-10) God will never let you down.
Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17, Romans 1:1-17, Psalms 9:13-20, Proverbs 19:4-5