Bible.com.au: Reading Plan -

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)

The Lord Is Good to His People

1 Shout praises to the Lord!

He is good to us,

and his love never fails.

2Everyone the Lord has rescued

from trouble

should praise him,

3everyone he has brought

from the east and the west,

the north and the south.

4Some of you were lost

in the scorching desert,

far from a town.

5You were hungry and thirsty

and about to give up.

6You were in serious trouble,

but you prayed to the Lord,

and he rescued you.

7At once he brought you

to a town.

8You should praise the Lord

for his love

and for the wonderful things

he does for all of us.

9To everyone who is thirsty,

he gives something to drink;

to everyone who is hungry,

he gives good things to eat.

10Some of you were prisoners

suffering in deepest darkness

and bound by chains,

11because you had rebelled

against God Most High

and refused his advice.

12You were worn out

from working like slaves,

and no one came to help.

13You were in serious trouble,

but you prayed to the Lord,

and he rescued you.

14He brought you out

of the deepest darkness

and broke your chains.

15You should praise the Lord

for his love

and for the wonderful things

he does for all of us.

16He breaks down bronze gates

and shatters iron locks.

17Some of you had foolishly

committed a lot of sins

and were in terrible pain.

18The very thought of food

was disgusting to you,

and you were almost dead.

19You were in serious trouble,

but you prayed to the Lord,

and he rescued you.

20By the power of his own word,

he healed you and saved you

from destruction.

21You should praise the Lord

for his love

and for the wonderful things

he does for all of us.

22You should celebrate

by offering sacrifices

and singing joyful songs

to tell what he has done.

23Some of you made a living

by sailing the mighty sea,

24and you saw the miracles

the Lord performed there.

25At his command a storm arose,

and waves covered the sea.

26You were tossed to the sky

and to the ocean depths,

until things looked so bad

that you lost your courage.

27You staggered like drunkards

and gave up all hope.

28You were in serious trouble,

but you prayed to the Lord,

and he rescued you.

29He made the storm stop

and the sea be quiet.

30You were happy because of this,

and he brought you to the port

where you wanted to go.

31You should praise the Lord

for his love

and for the wonderful things

he does for all of us.

32Honor the Lord

when you and your leaders

meet to worship.

33If you start doing wrong,

the Lord will turn rivers

into deserts,

34 flowing streams

into scorched land,

and fruitful fields

into beds of salt.

35But the Lord can also turn

deserts into lakes

and scorched land

into flowing streams.

36If you are hungry,

you can settle there

and build a town.

37You can plant fields

and vineyards that produce

a good harvest.

38The Lord will bless you

with many children

and with herds of cattle.

39Sometimes you may be crushed

by troubles and sorrows,

until only a few of you

are left to survive.

40But the Lord will take revenge

on those who conquer you,

and he will make them wander

across desert sands.

41When you are suffering

and in need,

he will come to your rescue,

and your families will grow

as fast as a herd of sheep.

42You will see this because

you obey the Lord,

but everyone who is wicked

will be silenced.

43Be wise! Remember this

and think about the kindness

of the Lord.

"Come and see what God has done…"

Day 1 of 13

CEV

Psalms 107:43

Days

Psalms 107:1-43