Listen

When the Lord changed Zion’s circumstances for the better, it was like we had been dreaming.

Our mouths were suddenly filled with laughter; our tongues were filled with joyful shouts.

It was even said, at that time, among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them!”

Yes, the Lord has done great things for us, and we are overjoyed.

Psalm 126:1-3

Think

Throughout this week we have been focused on the good work of getting better, practicing our faith, and learning to move forward instead of focusing on the past. While all of this is good work, it is also hard work. Lent is hard work; it is a time of reflection, dealing with things in our life that we may not want to deal with through self-examination, and even dealing with our own mortality. Heavy stuff.

We are reminded by the Psalmist that it is important to not just notice the difficulty and deal with it but to also notice the progress, the changing of circumstances, and our own growth. When we reflect on these things it is not enough just to take notice. This psalm encourages us to feel better, to smile, to be glad and filled with laughter. It is important to see how God has been faithful and how we have grown. We remember as the Psalmist says, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are overjoyed!”

Stephen Ingram

Pray

God, thank you for doing great things for me and great things in me!

You chose not only to create me but also to continue to pour into me, your creation, growing me, loving me, forgiving me, and helping me grow closer to you and to the rest of your creation.

Thank you, God, for you have done great things.

Amen.

Go

Ere we reach the shining river,
Lay we ev’ry burden down;
Grace our spirits will deliver,
And provide a robe and crown.

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

Robert Lowry in “Shall We Gather at the River?” (1864)