Bless the Lord

Bless the Lord, O my soul... worship His holy name.

For months I sang the words of that song in church, but I didn't quite grasp the full weight of their meaning. It wasn't until orientation this fall, when a wise woman taught about the power of emotions that it finally clicked for me. The following are some of the verses she shared:

Psalm 42:11, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

Psalm 103:1 "Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name."

The psalmist is speaking to his soul, the center of his emotions, the core of his being. Not from his emotions. To his emotions.

It's kind of like this... The middle school girls I teach in Sunday School know how much I dislike the phrase "follow your heart." Because not only is it a cheesy line tossed into every Hallmark or Disney channel movie, it is also contrary to God's word (Jeremiah 17:9). But here in the Psalms, the alternative is illustrated: lead your heart.

Most people recognize that worship is not merely an emotion or good feeling; it is a lifestyle, a day-to-day choice. But here I noticed for the first time the actual command to corral those emotions, to conform them to truth.

Questions to ask myself: Are my emotions reflecting a complete trust in God's sovereignty in every situation? Am I choosing to have a posture of gratitude, of love, of service, of blessing the Lord? Or am I choosing to complain, to doubt, to be discouraged? What thoughts or emotions do I need to take captive and exchange for TRUTH in my life?

Some days it is easier than others. Sometimes I don't feel very joyful. This week is one of those weeks; with the news that my departure for Zimbabwe will be delayed likely until late February, it would be easy to become discouraged. That's where I am learning to put this discipline into practice.

What do I know to be true? He will fulfill his purpose for me. In all things he works for my good. He who calls me is faithful.

So I will bless the Lord.