Theme for the Week: Jesus is Forever
Merry Christmas to you! This week of Christmas and the celebrated day of Jesus’ birth will quickly come and go. This day of Christmas may be fleeting, but Jesus is not. Jesus, God-in-the-flesh, is different from anything the world has ever experienced. It is said of Jesus in Hebrews 13:8 that "He is the same yesterday and today and forever". This is the truth that we chew on as we prepare to move into a new year while passing through the Christmas season. We also conclude the year with Psalm 150, the final psalm of the psalter, praising God with everything that we’ve got – breath and all!
Prayer for the Week
Lord Jesus Christ, while I have learned new things about You over the years, You are the same as You always have been. Still, I look forward to learning different parts of who You are – Your heart, personality, character, and will. While You don't change, I’d really like to change, becoming more like You in ways that glorify Our Father in heaven. Grant Your Holy Spirit to lead me along that path moving into the new year. In Your name I pray, Amen.
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 150:1-6
- Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens. - Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness. - Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre, - praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe, - praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals. - Let everything that has breath
praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD
Read the versus two times.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention. Using a journal is recommended.
Meditate: Talk (better yet write) with God about those words. Ask Him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses
Pondering Point
This Psalm begins and ends with a call to praise God – “Alleluia” as we sing in hymn upon hymn and song upon song. One of my favorites is Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (LSB790) What about your favorite? Sing it!
Praise to the Lord - O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath,
Come now with praises before him!
Let the "Amen!" sound from his people again;
gladly with praise we adore him!