Lent Day 14

Psalm 9:1-2

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with my whole heart;

    I will declare all Your marvelous works.

I will be glad and rejoice in You;

    I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

My apologies for not posting this Lenten Reflection for Day #14 of Lent yesterday as planned. We’ve had quite a busy week, especially the past two days, with medical tests and appointments for Bob as he continues his recovery. That’s the reason that the focus I felt the Lord impressing on me is all about praise, thanks, and gratitude.

The doctors declare that they are amazed at Bob’s recovery, that they have some uncertainties about just how far he will progress with his recovery because patients who were as gravely ill as Bob was have not usually survived, so they have also said that there are some unknowns about the future. On the other hand, they also acknowledge that he is continuing to progress.

As the doctors express their amazement, they do not credit God for it, so we must. It’s not really surprising that they do not. It makes me think of Jesus when He told the people who were criticizing those who were praising Him that if they were silent, the rocks would cry out. He is worthy of all thanks and praise, and all the more so when He does something like this. We did not do anything to deserve this answer to prayer. Even without this, we owe Him everything for sending Jesus to die in our place and rise again. Still, He displayed His glory in this way and we must give Him thanks and praise.

Psalm 28:6-7

Blessed be the Lord,

    because He has heard the voice of my supplications.

The Lord is my strength and my shield;

    my heart trusted in Him, and I was helped;

therefore my heart rejoices,

    and with my song I will thank Him.

Jesus, our Healer, You have healed our greatest need by forgiving our sin-sick hearts and making them whole and clean. Even beyond that You have promised to heal our bodies’ diseases just as You touched and healed people when You walked the earth. Still, those same people later died from something because sin entered into the world and brought illness, decay, and physical death, and so, one day, we must all die from something unless we remain alive until You return. So, we cannot know when or why You may choose to heal now or heal later, but we know this decision is Yours to make. As I sense Your Spirit saying that because this is not something we can control, that is all the more reason that we must praise and thank You for this and everything You do. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Psalm 145:3-7

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

    and His greatness is unfathomable.

One generation shall praise Your works to another

    and shall declare Your mighty acts.

I will speak of the glorious honor of Your majesty

    and of Your wondrous works.

They shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,

    and I will declare Your greatness.

They shall abundantly declare the fame of Your great goodness

    and shall sing of Your righteousness.