A New Song

This morning I awoke discouraged, disheartened – and I don’t know why.

Was it the heaviness of Covid-19 quarantine?  The seemingly never-ending issues surrounding my dad and stepmom in senior-care-lockdown? My concern for Keith as he works on infrastructure in Long Beach? Or was it just plain old w-e-a-r-i-n-e-s-s?

I prayed, asking the Lord to give me His mind and His joy once again, then headed outside in my robe and slippers, coffee in hand.

I saw a hummingbird nearby feeding on a red salvia that had a branch that had turned light pink…a yellow warbler singing in the top of a tree…an oriole in the neighbor’s trees waiting for me to sit down so she could eat breakfast at our grape jelly feeder. 

I thanked God for these sweet sights and sounds – creatures for whom God provides without their asking.

My devotionals all talked of joy in the Lord – the joy He gives, the joy of giving to others.  But the last one brought it all together…

Praise.

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord at all times.

Praise the Lord, even when I’m discouraged or disheartened.

Choose to praise Him – resetting the eyes of my heart to look at what He’s done…given…provided…His unfailing love…His Son, Jesus.

So I did.  

“Praise the Name of the Lord our God…for endless days I’ll sing His praise!”  He is the Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness.  He is my God.  He’s working even when I don’t see it or feel it.

And He put a new song, His joy, in my heart once again.  

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.” Psalm 28:7