Saturday, November 16, 2019  

Today’s Scripture Reading  |  Psalm 149           

Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
   his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in its Maker;
   let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
Let them praise his name with dancing,
   making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
   he adorns the humble with victory.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
   let them sing for joy on their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats
   and two-edged swords in their hands,
to execute vengeance on the nations
   and punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters
   and their nobles with chains of iron,
to execute on them the judgment decreed.
   This is glory for all his faithful ones.
Praise the Lord! (NRSV)

Reflection
God delights in you. The Holy Creator takes great pleasure in you as a child. Your holy parent created you and loves you just as you are. Regardless of your unique identities or self-defined shortcomings God desires an eternal relationship with you. So why not live with a sense of gratitude to the one who formed you.

Allow God’s love to transform how you live. Celebrate this wonderful life designed especially for you. The realization that God created you and delights in you is cause to rejoice. You should never look down on yourself or feel like you don’t measure up. Rather than look through the lens of this world, view yourself through the heart of a loving God.

The psalmist lays the foundation for the reason we sing the doxology. It is because of God’s amazing love for us. The psalmist notes, “For the Lord takes pleasure in people.” That verse alone is reason enough to praise the one that created us. Let the truth of God’s love fill you with confidence knowing that God takes unwavering pleasure in you. The next time you sing the doxology, do so with rejoicing because you are loved by an adoring God.

Because God takes pleasure in us, we have the crown of salvation. When adversity comes—sickness, separation, loss, brokenness, disappointment, God is there to provide what we need. So whenever you feel confined by your circumstances ask God to strengthen you with divine power. Since God takes pleasure in us, no good thing will be withheld.

As the psalm writer proclaimed, our God takes great pleasure in the people and absolutely nothing can change that.

Prayer
Loving God, your affection for us is truly amazing. It is beyond our comprehension, and we are privileged to be called your child. Help us to live fully in the reality that you delight in us. Thank you for making us your absolute pleasure. Amen.

Written by Robert Crouch, Director of Volunteer Ministry

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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