This psalm attributed to David, sure that God has heard his prayer, turns to praise. How
many of us at the assurance that God has heard and answered our prayer, take time to praise
God? Probably most of us, just go on to the next request and gratefully whether we praise God
or not, we are loved unconditionally.
Much to contemplate from this excerpt from St. Clare of Assisi, Letters, “Happy is the
person who clings with all their heart to our Lord and shares in God’s sacred banquet. God is
the one whose beauty is praised by heaven’s indefatigable angels. God is the one whose
kindness electrifies, whose contemplation refreshes, whose love satisfies, whose joy
replenishes, whose celebration illuminates the world, whose fragrance resurrects the dead,
whose splendid vision blesses, whose eternal glory shines, whose everlasting light burns
brightest, whose mirror reflects all things flawlessly.”
In our caretaking world, there are no easy answers, and we pray for inspiration each
moment to help us stay steadfast and strengthened. May we have eyes to see how many ways
that God is speaking to us through others, nature, within and more. While we may not always
like what we hear, still trusting God is a moment- to- moment call. Harriet Beecher Stowe
wrote, “When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though
you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time
that the tide will turn.” When we are in those tight places, we are pushed into a place of total
reliance on our God, who is waiting for us to trust wholeheartedly.
Of course, Scripture inspires us overwhelmingly through many verses. Here are a few:
1 Chronicles 16:11, “Rely on the mighty Lord; constantly seek His face.” Isaiah 41:10, “Do not
fear: I am with you do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you I will help you. I will
uphold you with My victorious right hand.” Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” Romans 15:4, “For
whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the
encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.”
As we have experiences of inspiration in our lives, it is important to share encouraging
others and giving them hope. Sharing our story can take another’s fear away, plus, hearing
from someone who has already gone through what you have faced is motivational and an
inspiration. We are God’s community, here for one another.
Holding onto hope, we trust God with our present and our future. Isaiah 30:21, “And
your ears shall hear a word behind you: ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ When you would turn to the
right or the left.”
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