Friday, August 11, 2017

Today’s Scripture Reading  |  Psalm 105:1–6, 16–22, 45b

O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name,
   make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
   tell of all his wonderful works.
Glory in his holy name;
   let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Seek the Lord and his strength;
   seek his presence continually.
Remember the wonderful works he has done,
   his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
O offspring of his servant Abraham,
   children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

When he summoned famine against the land,
   and broke every staff of bread,
he had sent a man ahead of them,
   Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
His feet were hurt with fetters,
   his neck was put in a collar of iron;
until what he had said came to pass,
   the word of the Lord kept testing him.
The king sent and released him;
   the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him lord of his house,
   and ruler of all his possessions,
to instruct his officials at his pleasure,
   and to teach his elders wisdom.

Praise the Lord! (NRSV)

Reflection
Recited on the first day of Passover in the Jewish faith and recounting God’s wondrous works, this passage is one of hope, excitement, love, and genuine gratitude for God. But how often do we really show our gratitude for God? When we pass a test? When a loved one comes out of surgery successfully? When we get the promotion we have worked so hard for?

Most of the time we thank God when it is convenient for us and the chips fall in our favor. It’s harder to thank God when we are in the midst of a sad time or when things aren’t going our way. But that is what this psalm reminds us to do: to praise God in the good and in the bad. We can’t always wait until our worldview looks better or falls in our favor to thank God.

Prayer
God, we thank you for all you do for us. We thank you in times of trouble and in times of joy, in the times when it is least convenient for us. May we always remember to thank you. Amen.

Written by Shelley Donaldson, Senior High Youth Coordinator

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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