Psalm 34:1-2 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.**
What is there that calls for a continuous response? A response, over and over and over again, that doesn’t leave me feeling tired or stripped-dry?
You.
You call me to praise. A pouring out that fills me up. Even when I come empty, I leave with hands full.
It’s You. You call forth. I give – even just a little drop that is squeezed from my spent flesh. And in giving praise, I receive You.
God, oh God who calls us to bless You – continually, all day long, never-ending blessing from my mouth. Impossible, it seems. I have nothing to give, until one word of praise from my mouth comes back like a boomerang. You fill me up with praise.
And then I can’t help but praise.
What I once thought was work is now sustenance. Hours spent toiling in my day-to-day are parched without praise intermissions. You bless me as I praise you. You ask of me that which will give me life: adoration.
I can’t help but praise.
You win back my thoughts, win back my words when I speak up from looking up. My tongue, under new ownership; my life, living praise.
All times, morning-noon-night, are chances to praise. Because, in doing so, I see life differently. I see You differently. You are the ever-expanding-to-fit-my-capacity God. And You ask of me the very thing which increases my capacity: praise.
God, worthy to receive all praise, is benevolent enough to first fill our empty mouths with that praise. You impart. I respond with my life. Now, ever-so-slowly warming to a life of praise.
God who made Your people to praise, You made your people to change. To grow. To develop deep heart-and-life responses to You. Those responses, up like a spring, come from praise.
Thank you for calling me to that which is changing my life, minute by minute.
**So what do I do with these posts, you ask, other than just read them? First, if you haven’t yet, read: Why I Adore to give you a context for this little space on my blog. (This post also gives context.)
If you are compelled, I invite you to participate. Set up a space and time in your own life to begin adoring. Over laundry or dinner dishes, on your commute to work, or in the wee morning hours — ten minutes is a great start. You can use the verse I list here every day or two as a launch pad for your own adoration.
Then practice praise.
Add to my adoration here, by posting a comment with your own words back to God about God …or hide it in your heart.
I promise your weary soul won’t regret it.
***You can easily subscribe to these devotional meditations as they are delivered, by using this feed: http://www.EveryBitterThingisSweet.com/posts/chai/feed or by entering your email address in the second box on the right-hand side… (scroll up a bit)
Additionally, all of the Morning Chai Posts can be seen, in the order of posting, by clicking here or adding this address to your reader: EveryBitterThingisSweet.com/posts/chai
