Today’s WORD (Text) Psalm 111
1/ Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 2/ Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. 3/ Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. 4/ He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful. 5/ He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant. 6/ He has shown his people the power of his works in giving them the heritage of the nations. 7/ The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. 8/ They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. / He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name. 10/ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.
Today’s Witness
The psalmist delineates and celebrates many of the attributes and actions that distinguish God as worthy of our praise. Notice the list: God’s works, God’s righteousness, grace, mercy, provisions, mindfulness, legacy, faithfulness, justice, wisdom, redeeming power, integrity in keeping covenants, holiness, awesomeness, and so much more are all high above anything we could ask or imagine. We praise the Lord our God, whose works are great and who is full of honor and majesty. God is real! The Creator God is not only alive and well but also maintains an ongoing concern for the creation and all its inhabitants. Faith in the Lord our God keeps us hopeful, forward-looking, and loving. The fear of the Lord, therefore, is not a negative emotion but a quality of reverence, admiration, and adoration for our awesome God. We can never stop praising our God!
Today’s Invitation
Have you ever noticed an increase in energy and positivity inside you after you have counted God’s blessings in your life? Try it!
Today’s Prayer
Dear God, as 2021 is still a fairly new year, we pledge to concentrate on you and on your goodness more often than we have done in the past. Lord, teach us to avoid the obsession with all that is bad, evil, and unkind in our world. Make us agents of salt and light, of praise and passion, of service and surrender that we might glorify you in our bodies and in the lives that we lead every day. Thank you for being so faithful, merciful, and kind. Help us to exude those same qualities as we encounter others throughout this day, in the Name of Jesus, Amen.
The Passionary Intention
Today, I choose to live my life with passion. Today, I intend to follow Christ more nearly, love more dearly and incarnate God’s grace more clearly by asking myself three questions:
- Where will I follow Christ today?
- To whom shall I demonstrate Jesus’ love and justice today?
- How can I play my part in practicing the presence of Christ, right here, right now?
The Passionary Movement Word and Witness devotion is published weekdays (Monday – Friday). Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies, is the author of today’s devotion.
Today’s WORD (Text) Psalm 111
1/ Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 2/ Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. 3/ Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. 4/ He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful. 5/ He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant. 6/ He has shown his people the power of his works in giving them the heritage of the nations. 7/ The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. 8/ They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. / He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name. 10/ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.
Today’s Witness
The psalmist delineates and celebrates many of the attributes and actions that distinguish God as worthy of our praise. Notice the list: God’s works, God’s righteousness, grace, mercy, provisions, mindfulness, legacy, faithfulness, justice, wisdom, redeeming power, integrity in keeping covenants, holiness, awesomeness, and so much more are all high above anything we could ask or imagine. We praise the Lord our God, whose works are great and who is full of honor and majesty. God is real! The Creator God is not only alive and well but also maintains an ongoing concern for the creation and all its inhabitants. Faith in the Lord our God keeps us hopeful, forward-looking, and loving. The fear of the Lord, therefore, is not a negative emotion but a quality of reverence, admiration, and adoration for our awesome God. We can never stop praising our God!
Today’s Invitation
Have you ever noticed an increase in energy and positivity inside you after you have counted God’s blessings in your life? Try it!
Today’s Prayer
Dear God, as 2021 is still a fairly new year, we pledge to concentrate on you and on your goodness more often than we have done in the past. Lord, teach us to avoid the obsession with all that is bad, evil, and unkind in our world. Make us agents of salt and light, of praise and passion, of service and surrender that we might glorify you in our bodies and in the lives that we lead every day. Thank you for being so faithful, merciful, and kind. Help us to exude those same qualities as we encounter others throughout this day, in the Name of Jesus, Amen.
The Passionary Intention
Today, I choose to live my life with passion. Today, I intend to follow Christ more nearly, love more dearly and incarnate God’s grace more clearly by asking myself three questions:
The Passionary Movement Word and Witness devotion is published weekdays (Monday – Friday). Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies, is the author of today’s devotion.