The Heart's Cry: Psalm 144

Psalm 144

This Psalm is part 'take care of us in the face of our enemies' and part 'bless us in all ways', which is well and good but I want to focus on two verses that ultimately leads to another verse. But first a question.

How often do you find yourself paying attention to an ant?

I know, it may seem like a strange questions, but seriously, how often do you find yourself paying attention to an ant? Unless you happen to be a scientist studying ants my guess is that your answer would be much like mine, hardly ever. After all we are so big that ants really don't make that much difference in our world, unless we are at a picnic or perhaps something sweet and sticky has spilled on or kitchen floor. And when we do pay attention to them it is usually to swat them away or to go to Wal-Mart and purchase some kind of ant murdering device, be it spray or sweet sticky poisonous stuff. Now, I know its not a one-to-one correlation, but one more question.

How often does God pay attention to us?

O Lord, what are human beings that you regard them,
    or mortals that you think of them?
They are like a breath;
    their days are like a passing shadow.

The answer, at every moment of every day. From the first breath we breathed, which God gave to us in the first place to the last breath we breathe and even beyond that one. God looks at us and cares about what we are going through and hurts when we hurt and is joyful when we find joy. God is always working through each moment to bring beauty from ashes, to make something wonderful grow in the manure that we sometimes think is our life. God is causing the sun to shine and the rain to fall on us, giving nourishment and potential to us in every moment.

And that is amazing.

Because God could look upon us the same way we look upon an ant, but instead God chooses to care, to interact, to sacrifice for us. And what should our response be to that kind of caring, that kind of kindness, that kind of grace, that kind of love?

Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall;
    happy are the people whose God is the Lord.

+ How can you praise God in this moment for all that God does for you?

+ How can you be more mindful of God's presence and care in your life?