MERRY MONDAY BY PARRIS-
“Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” Ps.103:1-3
When New Orleans goes into a dry season the river where I live becomes beautiful. It is clear, shallow, bubbly, happily singing its way down to meet with two other rivers in Covington. It becomes a perfect prayer walk downstream. There virtually are no houses or humans, but looming over me are tall pines, wild magnolias, and bamboo rustling as the seasons change. The river becomes a whole world itself. The kingfisher flies ahead patrolling the waters, the herons call out above me, the snakes slithers away (thank God) and I stop along the sandy banks looking for odd shaped driftwood and different kinds of animal’s prints. The depth changes ever so often pooling in fishes and darkness that I care not to walk into. Fallen trees of recent storms always interest me. There is also a beautiful red wildflower that blooms along the banks during this time of year. One does get lost in the moment and I, like the river, begin to spill over in gratitude of a wonderful God. I like to call it the Divine Hallel or supernatural praise!
David knew about stirring up his inmost self to magnify the Lord. Spurgeon, says, “He soliloquizes, holds self-communion and exhorts himself, as though he felt that dulness would all too soon steal over his faculties, as, indeed, it will over us all, unless we are diligently on the watch.” All of us need continue expansion and ways to express ourselves deep within our soul. Why you may ask? David answers this with; “so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s”. Our soul needs to be empty to be full. And when it is filled with “God things” we experience a renewal of strength compared to an eagle who learns to soar above the storm. The Lord continues an ongoing supernatural change within us as we praise Him in the divine Hallel. Praising him in the inward parts with all of our outward parts- our mind our will and our emotions. Won’t you join all creation as they sing unto the Lord!
Living in the “divine Hallel” requires a thanksgiving all within you! John Stevenson in the Treasury of David said, “Let your conscience bless the Lord by unvarying fidelity. Let your judgment bless him, by decisions in accordance with his word. Let your imagination bless him, by pure and holy musings. Let your affections praise him, by loving whatsoever he loves. Let your desires bless him, by seeking only his glory. Let your memory bless him, by not forgetting any of his benefits. Let your thoughts bless him, by meditating on his excellencies. Let your hope praise him, by longing and looking for the glory that is to be revealed. Let your every sense bless him by its fealty, your every word by its truth, and your every act by its integrity.”
So let’s have a praise the lord Monday!