Change Your Lens...Change Your Life!

Sometime in late April I became enamored with Psalm 145. I had been meditating on a verse in the previous chapter and just kept going. I thought that I had stumbled on a little gold mine. I knew it deserved more intense observation, so I invited my friends to spend the summer meditating on this “song” with me. Subsequent study of my “discovery” has led me to the conclusion that I was set-up! Holy Spirit has something to say to us from this portion of scripture and I was just on the path that He had already laid out. I am so happy that you have decided to come with me on this “summer song” journey…I look forward to hearing your insights.

Ever hear of the “Ashrei”? This word refers to Jewish liturgy consisting of Psalms 84:4 and Psalm 144:15 followed by Psalm 145. Since the Dark Ages, the Ashrei has been recited three times daily in Jewish worship making Psalm 145 the best known and most quoted song of the Psalms. It was stated in the Talmud that anyone who recites Psalm 145 three times a day merits a reward in the World to come.

Frequent meditating on or reciting of this chapter is bound to be “life changing” because it is “lens changing”! When God is magnified, troubles, worries, challenges, etc. fade to the background as He takes center stage.  I am committed to declaring Psalm 145 three times each day for the duration of this study…will you join me?

cg

Week 2 - June 2, 2015

Psalm 145:3
(MSG) 3 God is magnificent; He can never be praised enough.
 There are no boundaries to His greatness.
(NKJV) 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.

Magnificent synonyms: majestic, sumptuous, opulent; exquisite, sublime, gorgeous, splendid, superb. Something that is magnificent is beautiful, princely, grand, or ostentatious.

In the same family as magnify: To increase the apparent size of an object, especially by means of a lens, instrument, or device.
What lens are you viewing God through? Whatever you magnify in your life become greater. Do you magnify your problems or your God?

GREAT—from Hebrew: gadowl
· Large in magnitude and extent, in number, in intensity
· Loud (in sound)
· Older (in age)
· Preeminent in importance

Do I really see God as magnificent, great? If so, what does this knowledge look like on a daily basis? How does it affect my life? Am I living a life of praise?

NO BOUNDARIES TO HIS GREATNESS…
Think: How might I unwittingly place boundaries on His greatness? Do I live my life like I believe I could never reach the bottom of His greatness?




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Week 1- May 26, 2015

(AMP) 1 I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever [with grateful, affectionate praise]. 2 Every day [with its new reasons] will I bless You [affectionately and gratefully praise You]; yes, I will praise Your name forever and ever.

EXTOL: (verb) Praise enthusiastically.


THINK:
How can I “enthusiastically” extol God?
"Every day will I bless You” What are your NEW reasons for blessing the Lord today?
Make a list or add to your gratitude journal every day this week.
I WILL. These two words are used four times in this passage. Do you recognize praise as being a function of your “will”? What if any are areas in your life that you are saying, “I won’t” to God? Think about adjustments you need to make.


Remember, the comment section below is for the purpose of interaction and not just stand-alone comments. It is my desire to engage you in conversation. Please feel free to comment on, respond to and revisit this blog! It is my desire that this will be a virtual interactive caring community.