Listen

You yourself have kept track of my misery. Put my tears into your bottle— aren’t they on your scroll already? Then my enemies will retreat when I cry out. I know this because God is mine. God: whose word I praise. The Lord: whose word I praise. I trust in God; I won’t be afraid. What can anyone do to me?

Psalm 56:8-11

Think

Since God is forever good and loving, we should continually offer praises to God throughout our lives, in both good times and bad. In the good times, praise God for the many blessings in your life. Likewise, in the not-so-good times, praise God for the many blessings in your life. Because of God’s love for us, we can praise God even when times are tough.

To trust in God is to remember God has promised to be with us always. The love God shows us is greater than any fear we may have.

Choosing to praise God throughout our lives helps remind us that, no matter what others may think or say, God is faithful and true. The only appropriate response to God’s eternal love is to sing and shout praises to the Lord – today, tomorrow, and always!

Jonathan Hall

Pray

Almighty God, help me to praise your name at all times. When times are both good and bad, help me to remember your promises to love and protect me always. Thank you, Lord, for being the one I can always turn to, no matter what. Amen.

Go

May God give you Grace never to sell yourself short!

Grace to risk something big for something good!

Grace to remember that the world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but Love!

from “The Dismissal Blessing” by William Sloane Coffin