Listen

Let my whole being bless the Lord! Let everything inside me bless his holy name! Let my whole being bless the Lord and never forget all his good deeds: how God forgives all your sins, heals all your sickness, saves your life from the pit, crowns you with faithful love and compassion, and satisfies you with plenty of good things so that your youth is made fresh like an eagle’s.

Psalm 103:1-5

Think

Many of the ideas about God I learned growing up put the “fear of God” in me. I was taught God loved me if I behaved nicely, but I should fear God’s anger if I sinned. My sins could be punished with a lightning bolt, a personal tragedy, or the fires of hell after I died. It was a relationship that had only two sides – spotless goodness or guilt and judgement.

However, the psalmist invites us not to be scared but to love and praise God as a thank-you for each of our blessings. We have so many reasons to honor God. We have been forgiven so we can be forgiving people. We have been healed so we can be healers. We are loved so we can spread love in our homes, schools, churches, and communities in person and online. This God is not to be feared but praised. When we focus on God’s goodness, everything inside us should jump, shout, and celebrate!

Kamal Hassan

Pray

God, I am excited to know that you delight in me. I do not have to be afraid because you love, heal, bless, and forgive me. Amen.

Go

I don’t feel no ways tired,

I come too far from where I started from.

Nobody told me that the road would be easy,

I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me.

from “I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired” by Curtis Burrell (1978)