Devotion • November 21
Today’s Scripture Reading
Psalm 65
Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed,
O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come.
When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions.
Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.
By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.
By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might.
You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples.
Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.
You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy. (NRSV)
Reflection
Thanksgiving! Joy! Beauty!
This psalm is so uplifting and celebratory that if we allow ourselves to picture all that it describes, we can experience a sense of abundance. Our gratitude is grounded in our appreciation for God’s great creation and God’s great power of salvation, forgiveness, and creativity.
God saves us in so many ways: by forgiving us even when we are overcome with our own sense of failure (our iniquities); by showing us beauty, when we can look around and see; by watering the earth so that plants and food can grow and animals flourish.
As we draw close to the day set aside for Thanksgiving, let us take a moment to reflect on everything and any little thing for which we are grateful. There is a lot of tumult in our world right now. Can we take a moment to grow still with God and remember all that God has created?
Prayer
Creator God, give me a spirit of gratitude for all that you have created. Still my thoughts like you still the roaring of the seas, like you calm the tumult of the peoples. Water and soften the hard parts in me, and draw out the joy and beauty so that I may share it with all those whom I meet. Amen.
Written by Nanette Sawyer, Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Small Group Ministry
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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