Thursday, April 18, 2013
More Than Mere Words
As I awoke this morning the birds were just beginning to sing. I thought to myself, “I love to hear those birds sing as they wake up.” My reading led me to the scriptures Psalm 111 and Proverbs 15:3. Psalm 111 is a picture of a person that is filled to the brim with praise for God, So full of praise are they that it overflows. The Psalmist talks about the works of God in eloquent terms, like glorious, honorable, wonderful, and so on. There are a couple interesting points made. He claims the works were made by God to be remembered. He also says God promises to provide for those that fear Him, and that He will also give them understanding. God’s works will last forever, and they stand in truth and justice. From this I concluded that when God wants something to be remembered, He makes it last forever.
The Proverbs scripture is more timeless, saying that God keeps watch on the earth and sees the just and the unjust. The scriptures on both sides of Proverbs 15:3 refer to the mouth and the tongue, and the result seems to indicate God is watching to see what is said, whether it is just or unjust. Even now as I continue to hear the birds sing, I wanted to write something about thankfulness. But what could I write? Should I write that I am thankful that God watches over us, which I am; or that He has made His covenant to last forever by writing His commandments and statutes in our hearts, which I am; or, is there something more fundamental here?
It occurred to me that the words of praise and thanksgiving are good. God appreciates them for sure. But there is something more in these scriptures, in all the scriptures really. He does not just want us to say thankful words, He wants us to BE thankful. Thankfulness is a state of being, like the Psalmist that is overflowing with praise to the point that he had to sing where ever he went. I am thankful that my family has food. I am thankful that the thunder and lightning did not harm us last night, and we slept out of the rain. I am thankful that God always remembers us. As I meditate on these things I sense a change within, a renewing of hope, of gratitude, and of peace. Perhaps this is the thankfulness state of being. It is more than mere words, for sure.
Prayer
Father, thank You for these feathered singers outside my window each morning. Thank You for the dry place to sleep and food to eat. Thank You for all of the people that You have made, and that You call to us to seek Your face. Thank You for allowing me a place at Your table, in the presence of my enemies. Thank You for life! In Jesus name. Amen.