Today’s Word of Encouragement comes from Leslie Brandt’s Psalms/Now, which is a collection of prayers and meditations on all 150 Psalms of the Old Testament.
“Like the ancient songs, these contemporary restatements affirm God’s constant care: I am lonely, O God, but I am not alone. You are here in the city.”
In these days of isolation due to the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is affecting our world and has many countries in varying degrees of lock-down. These words are often an encouragement to me and a source of inspiration, may that be the case for you today too.
“I feel like singing this morning, O Lord. I feel like telling everyone how great You are. If only they could know the depths of Your love and Your eternal concern for those who will follow You!
But my songs are so often off-key. My speech is so inadequate. I simply cannot express what I feel, what I know to be true about Your love for Your creatures upon this world.
But even the songs of the birds proclaim Your praises. The heavens and the earth beneath them, the trees that reach towards You, the flowers that glow in colourful beauty, the green hills and soaring mountains, the valleys and the plains, the lakes and the rivers, the great oceans that pound our shores – they proclaim Your greatness, O God, and Your love for the sons and daughters of men.
How glorious it is to be alive, O Lord! May every breath of my body, and every beat of my heart, be dedicated to Your praise and glory.”
Many studies and reports are being done on the psychological effect that the covid-19 pandemic is having on people’s mental health. Early indications are that they are having a major effect with regards to people’s sense of loneliness, which in some countries and cities around the world was already a ‘silent killer’ that was often under reported, due to the frequent coexistence of loneliness with depression.
So may I encourage you to reach out to someone in your community who may feel lonely at this time due to the social-distancing requirements to keep us all safe and secure in our “bubbles”.
Remind them that they are not alone and that God is here for them – Just as He is there for you too!
Also, may the following links to songs/music uplift you today as you listen and/or sing your hearts out as if no-one is watching:
How Great is Our God – Chris Tomlin
How Great Thou Art – Thundersley Brass Band
Psalm 89 – The “Restoration” project
I Could Sing of Your Love Forever – Maranatha! Music
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