Today is day 150 and the final psalm. I give a nod-back to August 3rd, the day I began this journey. I was pretty sure I could do it, but also knew there were many projects and life events on my road – to the end of the year – that could derail my efforts for a day or two. So, I packed some grace and marched on and here I am. I was able to post each day ad I thoroughly enjoyed spending a day in a new psalm for 150 days.

One of my spiritual gifts is encouragement and there is an abundance of encouragement in the psalms. My biggest challenges came on the days when the psalm had an abundance of smack-talk against the enemies of their time. I had to look deeper to find the encouragment to share. But, on those days, in my mind’s eye, I could see all my sons, brothers, nephews, grandsons and my dad’s and husband’s chests puff , out. Imaging what God could do to their enemies would pump them up, like the ultimate action film.

Psalms 150 is a wonderful psalm for an encourager to end this journey on. This psalm is packed with reasons to praise God and creative ways to praise Him. My church encourages all kinds of worship and I have been fortunate to be in the presence of many worshippers who worship freely and show you new ways to sing a song to the Lord.

Have you tried any of the suggestions in psalm 150?

Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn
Praise him with a lyre and harp
Praise him with a tambourine and dancing
Praise him with strings and flutes
Praise him with a crash of cymbals
Praise him with a loud clanging cymbals
Psalms 150:3-5

Other ideas: Praise him waving banners, flags or pompoms. Praise him with arms raised high.

Whatever love that comes from your heart to God’s ears is praise to him. Let your heart speak in the New Year.

I’ll start writing again in a month or two. I’m waiting for my next assignment. Until then, I pray that your intimacy with Jesus will grow by leaps and bounds in 2023. (Hey, you could praise God with a leap, if you are able! Or if you’re more like me, maybe a bow will do.)

Today’s photo is one of my own. Our godson, Kahlan, was waving a flag during worship and it looked like it started on fire. So cool to imagine the Kingdom of God breaking through on this photo.

See you in 2023.

This psalm is an excerpt of a psalm from 1 Chronicles 16. The psalm was written to celebrate and worship God. The ark was returned to David’s city. All of Israel participated in the Ark’s return and the Levites ministered before the Ark and sang this song, proclaiming God’s name and his wonders over the land, the people, the earth and the seas. They clarified and declared God’s Lordship over all. As it is today and always was.

O, Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His lovingkindness endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16: 34

Can you hear this psalm and it’s truths echoing over you today?

See you tomorrow for Psalm 97

---