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Series Introduction:

Remembering the character of God and the wonderful things he has done moves us to praise and thank our great God for who he is and what he has done. This series of devotions have been written to encourage you to ponder the loving deeds of the Lord, so that songs of joy and thankfulness bubble forth from within you. Some devotions will focus on small but significant habits, while others will focus on the character of God.

At the end of each devotion and prayer, I have provided a link to a song. Everyone’s taste in music is unique, so please, if you don’t like my choices, choose songs that you love.

Reflection:

Towards the end of the pandemic, I decided I needed help with being thankful to the Lord. I was struck by this verse and the encouragement to ‘ponder the loving deeds of the Lord,’ as I hadn’t done that in a while. Psalm 107 gave me a framework to figure out how to bring about such a significant change.

At the time, I was stressed and emotionally wrung out. If I thought about how I felt, the word I used most was ‘blah’. And to be honest, I didn’t really feel anything at all — just empty. It’s hard to be thankful when you are empty. My prayer to God was little more than an ‘arrow’ prayer:

‘Satisfy me in the morning with your unfailing love,

That I may sing for joy and be glad all my days.’

Psalm 90:14 (paraphrase)

I wanted to sing these songs but felt I had little voice; if I tried to sing, the tune was bland and monotonous.

But the Lord answered my prayer. In this series of devotions, I will share with you some of the things that helped change my ‘blah and emptiness’ into ‘songs of joy and gladness.’ Most of these suggestions are small, but they brought change.

The first step for me was to follow the Psalmist’s example by turning my mind to the work of God. So, today, my encouragement to you is to ‘ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.’ Take the time to remember God’s mighty and gracious work, especially your own salvation story.

Slowly read Psalm 107, filled with stories of God’s rescue and notice the repeated encouragement to give thanks. Note too that first, God’s people needed to remember. To remember, you need to slow down and ponder; you need to let your mind recall the wonderful deeds of the Lord.

‘Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.’

Psalm 107:8-9

And perhaps, as you let God’s word fill you, you may find that the feelings of ‘blah’ will lift a little and enable you to sing a song that is beautiful and melodic — full of joy and gladness.

Short prayer:

Our Father, we give thanks to you for your unfailing love and your wonderful deeds for humankind. Thank you that you satisfy the thirsty and fill the hungry with good things.

Thank you for you are good, and your love endures forever. Let us tell of your works with songs of joy today. In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Song: Give Thanks – Hannah Hobbs

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/track/0TMB1xLJO1lV0ONXu5Uk4w?si=afdeb598ae094c8a

YouTube

https://youtu.be/o0t-26Rs_GE

Psalms 107:1-43

Book V

Psalms 107–150

Psalm 107

1Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

2Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—

those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,

3those he gathered from the lands,

from east and west, from north and south.

4Some wandered in desert wastelands,

finding no way to a city where they could settle.

5They were hungry and thirsty,

and their lives ebbed away.

6Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.

7He led them by a straight way

to a city where they could settle.

8Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for mankind,

9for he satisfies the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things.

10Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,

prisoners suffering in iron chains,

11because they rebelled against God’s commands

and despised the plans of the Most High.

12So he subjected them to bitter labor;

they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

13Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he saved them from their distress.

14He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,

and broke away their chains.

15Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for mankind,

16for he breaks down gates of bronze

and cuts through bars of iron.

17Some became fools through their rebellious ways

and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.

18They loathed all food

and drew near the gates of death.

19Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he saved them from their distress.

20He sent out his word and healed them;

he rescued them from the grave.

21Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

22Let them sacrifice thank offerings

and tell of his works with songs of joy.

23Some went out on the sea in ships;

they were merchants on the mighty waters.

24They saw the works of the Lord,

his wonderful deeds in the deep.

25For he spoke and stirred up a tempest

that lifted high the waves.

26They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;

in their peril their courage melted away.

27They reeled and staggered like drunkards;

they were at their wits’ end.

28Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

and he brought them out of their distress.

29He stilled the storm to a whisper;

the waves of the sea were hushed.

30They were glad when it grew calm,

and he guided them to their desired haven.

31Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

32Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people

and praise him in the council of the elders.

33He turned rivers into a desert,

flowing springs into thirsty ground,

34and fruitful land into a salt waste,

because of the wickedness of those who lived there.

35He turned the desert into pools of water

and the parched ground into flowing springs;

36there he brought the hungry to live,

and they founded a city where they could settle.

37They sowed fields and planted vineyards

that yielded a fruitful harvest;

38he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,

and he did not let their herds diminish.

39Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled

by oppression, calamity and sorrow;

40he who pours contempt on nobles

made them wander in a trackless waste.

41But he lifted the needy out of their affliction

and increased their families like flocks.

42The upright see and rejoice,

but all the wicked shut their mouths.

43Let the one who is wise heed these things

and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

"Come and see what God has done…"

Day 1 of 13

NIV

Psalms 107:43

Days

Psalms 107:1-43