Celebrating God’s Goodness

CELEBRATING GOD’S GOODNESS

a prayer to open

Here’s my heart, Lord. Speak what is true.

Here’s my life, Lord. Speak what is true.

How the king rejoices in your strength, O LORD!

He shouts with joy because you give him victory.

For you have given him his heart’s desire;

you have withheld nothing he requested.

You welcomed him back with success and prosperity.

You placed a crown of finest gold on his head.

He asked you to preserve his life,

and you granted his request.

The days of his life stretch on forever.

Your victory brings him great honor,

and you have clothed him with splendor and majesty.

You have endowed him with eternal blessings

and given him the joy of your presence.

For the king trusts in the LORD.

The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.

How often do we pray for something or ask God to carry us through a hard time but then forget to celebrate and praise him for answering our prayers? Or how often do we fail to express our hearts’ desires to God for fear he won’t hear us or answer our pleas? This psalm reminds us that God wants to fulfill our deepest desires—the longings in us to be loved and known, to be seen and forgiven, to have purpose and meaning. And when he does, when we find ourselves in those moments of deep contentment, may we celebrate and thank him for his faithfulness and graciousness. How might our lives be shaped if we celebrated God’s goodness to us, thanking and praising him for hearing and blessing us?

• Read this passage again slowly. What word or phrase stands out to you? Why do you think that particular word or phrase speaks to you? What does it say?
• Where do you see God’s goodness to you over the past six months? What do you want to say to him about whatever you identified?
• Sit quietly for a couple of minutes and ask God to help you identify the desires in your heart that persist and long to be filled. Where do you sense discontentment? Where do you feel a longing for things to be different? What is your prayer?

Lord, you know my deepest desires, as well as those that sit right on the surface. Awaken me to what underlies the sense of longing I have in the places I feel discontent or anxious. Remind me that you’re making me whole, making me new, shoring up the holes in my heart and soul. Grant me the desires of my heart. Fill me with your presence. Amen.