Rejoice in the Lord

by Carolyn Ehrlich

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Bless the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord! (Psalm 104:35b)

Read Psalm 104:24–34;35b

How God loves to be praised. What better way to express our love for our Creator than to praise him? Today, exuberantly, enthusiastically and prayerfully rejoice in our Lord and Creator. It feels like a bit of a ‘cop-out’ on my part as I write this devotion. I read this psalm, and I don’t feel like there is anything to add. Meditate on what it says. Meditate on God’s vastness – his power, perfection, sovereignty and wisdom. Take small parts of this psalm and ponder them, for they are good.

I remember the day when I realised God’s immenseness in a tangible way. I was driving in the country and enjoying the scenery. It was green, and the pastures were lush. There were hills in the distance. The day was glorious. As I was reflecting, I thought about the fact that I like to do patchwork and quilting. I know how much time it takes me to make one quilt. My one quilt would fit a queen-sized bed at most. It takes me hours, days, weeks and months – and it is far from perfect. And yet, I could see a vast landscape on the small section of road I was driving on. And I realised that the one quilt I had spent so much time and effort to create would cover such an insignificant part of that landscape. In fact, it would be invisible in the landscape. God is so immense, so wonderful, so powerful, so wise, so colourful, so creative, and so perfect. I wonder if you can relate.

The psalmist gives us a great guide for the many things for which we can rejoice and praise God:

• God has wisely made all things.
• The earth is full of his creatures.
• Meditate on the vastness of the sea and the number of creatures, both small and great.
• God gives food to his people in due season.
• God’s people gather up what he has given them.
• When God opens his hand, his people receive good things.
• We rely on God for breath; otherwise, we die.
• When God sends forth his Spirit, the earth is renewed.

Praise God. Every day and always. Rejoice in the Lord.

Heavenly Father, you are wise beyond understanding. You have made the earth, which is vast and full of your creatures. There is a season for everything in your world. You give us life. You renew the face of the ground. The earth trembles when you look at it. Mountains smoke when you touch them. I praise and worship you today and always. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Carolyn Ehrlich lives in retirement with her husband Wayne in Ipswich, Queensland. Before retirement, Carolyn was an academic, working as a researcher in the fields of disability and rehabilitation. Carolyn had also previously worked clinically as a registered nurse. Today, Carolyn keeps busy with hobbies such as patchwork and quilting, supporting the Ipswich Lutheran Parish in various leadership roles, and supporting her family.

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