SHOUT NOW!

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 115 (NRSV)
God blesses the chosen people

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.
Why should the nations say,
"Where is their God?"

Our God is in the heavens;
he does whatever he pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
they make no sound in their throats.
Those who make them are like them;
so are all who trust in them.

O Israel, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.

The Lord has been mindful of us; he will bless us;
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
he will bless those who fear the Lord,
both small and great.

May the Lord give you increase,
both you and your children.
May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
The heavens are the Lord's heavens,
but the earth he has given to human beings.
The dead do not praise the Lord,
nor do any that go down into silence.
But we will bless the Lord
from this time on and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!


DEVOTION

My favorite verses from today’s scripture reading are “The Lord has been mindful of us; he will bless us…We will bless the Lord from this time on and forevermore. Praise the Lord!”

I love this reminder that God is mindful of us. To be mindful means to be “attentive, aware, or careful.”

It tickles me to no end that God is attentive to little ole me! It encourages me without fail when I remember that God is aware of all of my joys and sorrows. It heartens me to know that the creator of the universe is careful as God plans all of the details of my life!

Because I know that God is attentive, aware, and careful I can trust God even in the most difficult of circumstances. I can believe—by faith—that God has a good plan for me, not to harm me but to give me a future and a hope!

When I am facing trials and tribulations I encourage myself to “TRUST GOD!” There is no other response to pain, sadness, grief, anxiety, or worry than to begin to praise God for who God is and what God is going to do.

In my tradition the old folks say, “Don’t wait for the battle to be over, SHOUT NOW!”

When I was young, I didn’t understand that saying, but now that I am older, I get it! I don’t have to wait on the manifestation of my miracle to praise the Sovereign Lord of the Universe!
God is praise-worthy at all times! Furthermore, my God has never left me, nor forsaken me. I know my God is going to come through for me. So, I don’t have to wait to see the victory, I can celebrate by faith—RIGHT NOW!


Is there a trouble that you need to “give to God” on this day? If so, please pray with me:

Great God, thank you that you are mindful of my every thought and action. Thank you that you love me so much that you have already made provision for the forgiveness of my sin and eternal life through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, my Lord. Please forgive me for failing to praise you in the tough times. Please fill me up with your Holy Spirit so that I can worship you as I should and so that I can share our love with others. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.


INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL