Today’s Scripture: Psalm 30:1, NIV- “A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David. I will exalt you, LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.”
Google AI defines “exalt the LORD” as worshipping God and giving Him the highest place in our lives. It can also mean to recognize God’s greatness and authority, and to obey His commands. This lays out our proper order for today.
Do we even know what to expect today? Regardless of what we may face, can exalt the LORD. When we pause first thing in the morning to exalt the LORD, we are praising the “Godness” of God. He is our LORD and God first.
In Psalm 30 David recognizes that it is God who lifted him out of the depths. We can exalt God prior to hitting our depths, in the middle of our deepest pits of life, and after He has lifted us. In hindsight I can claim as David did in Psalm 30:2, “O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.” (NKJV)
In the depths of my addictions, I am thankful that I heard someone say that that their life had been forever changed because they hit their knees every morning and thanked God for keeping them sober yesterday and asked Him to keep him sober today. The true step one in recovery and life is to exalt and thank God for who He is.
I can recognize and proclaim now that it was the LORD who brought my soul from hell. The Hebrew word Sheol or the Greek word Haides indicates we all understand the pits of life. This is the land of darkness and living in the shadow of death. Wherever we are it is the LORD who restores us.
Psalm 30:4 is the key to having true and lasting joy, “Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.” (NIV) Before we feel joy, we must trust Psalm 30:5, “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” (NKJV)
Regardless of what we are enduring we can rely on joy coming in the morning. Why don’t we go ahead and start our day exalting the source of joy before we may even know it. As Psalm 30:11 promises it is God who clothes us in joy and gladness.
We find true joy and gladness in the LORD our God when we live out Psalm 30:12, “that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.” (NIV) Let our hearts sing God’s praises as we awake and always.
It is here where we find joy. Can you exalt God now for being LORD of all?
Today’s Prayer: O LORD, I am exalting You now. I do not even know what I am facing today yet I know my face and my heart are turned to praise You for being my LORD. Thank You LORD for bringing us up from the pits. In the darkness is where we see most clearly Your light. In our bewilderment is where we come to recognize Your joy. I am praising You LORD and praying to live in Your praise forever. Amen.
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