From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!

Psalm‬ ‭113‬:‭3

In passages like these, I get a bit overwhelmed when I look at the obvious joy in devotion that is set forth compared to the abject bare essentials I often practice.

And to be honest, I don’t always even reach the bare essentials. Worship falls flat. Praise seems out of reach. Devotion comes off as a penance—more like doing time than relishing the moment.

And I see others that appear able and willing and happy to rise up in praise. Whether it’s my introverted pessimism or my terminal lack of perspective, I am often caught going through motions.

Is this fake? It can feel like it. If we dwell in that line of thinking, it becomes dangerous. How quickly we can stumble backward from our own deceptive thinking.

Yet, there is grace and mercy in our struggle. Even in our shortcomings, we are reminded that our praise is not about perfection, but about a genuine heart seeking the Lord.

It is about our willingness to recognize Him as our true source of joy and peace, even when we don't feel like it.

And the response to this looks like the psalmist’s posture—one of praise and thanksgiving.

I don’t have to look far if I look honestly at my past addiction and current recovery for evidence of His grace, undeserved.

So whether with hands raised or with pen to paper, I can choose to step toward Him further in praise, in gratitude and in celebratory hope for what is yet to come.

God, direct my thinking to enjoying and rejoicing in you.