Raising the Roof for God!

Those that run marathons expect to find points along their journey where they can stop and get water and be refreshed! They pace themselves between points to ensure that they won’t get weary or over-tasked. Today I want to make a point to get refreshing from the marathon race that I have been on this year! As I was reading my devotion, I was drawn to the words in Isaiah 12 (MSG):

¹And you will say in that day,   

“I thank you, God. You were angry   

but your anger wasn’t forever.

You withdrew your anger and moved in and comforted me.

²“Yes, indeed—God is my salvation.   

I trust, I won’t be afraid.

God—yes God!—is my strength and song,   

best of all, my salvation!”

^3-4Joyfully you’ll pull up buckets of water   

 from the wells of salvation.

And as you do it, you’ll say,   

“Give thanks to God. Call out his name.   

Ask him anything! Shout to the nations, tell them what he’s done,   

spread the news of his great reputation!

^5-6“Sing praise-songs to God. He’s done it all!   

Let the whole earth know what he’s done!

Raise the roof! Sing your hearts out, O Zion!   

The Greatest lives among you: The Holy of Israel.”

This year so far, we have seen great challenges, but we have also seen great victory! In the midst of every day and every situation, we have drawn from the wells of salvation and poured up buckets of mercy and grace! I don’t want to be like the nine lepers who didn’t return to say thank-you. In fact, I want to raise the roof – I want to sing out of my heart and tell everybody that the ”greatest lives among YOU!”  His name is Jesus! He is our Savior, our Comforter, our Friend. He IS the One we can trust as we rise in the morning to order our day, and the One we can turn to at night to give us rest. He is all that we will let me, and infintely more than we could ever want.

It is no wonder that the Psalmist David could write songs of praise – even the ungifted psalmist makes melody in their heart when praising their God! There is much I have to praise God for, but my praise began today when I realized that I often sit with my legs crossed. You may say, “so what?” Well, that is just one more evidence of a healing that God gave me, that I don’t even think of most of the time as I go about my daily activities. Whereas at one point, all movement in my legs caused pain – I literally rip and run all day – pain free! That is cause to praise the Lord – but then, that is only one thing – it would take pages and pages to declare ALL THE THINGS I am thankful for – how about you?

Blessings to You, Praise to Our God!

Maria