Psalm 92:1–4
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your merciful love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.”
This is part 2 of a deeper look into this psalm. Last month I shared a little about praise vs thanksgiving. This month, I’d like to take a deeper look at the 2nd part of this psalm and ask ourselves HOW we give God our praise and thanksgiving? Do we truly offer him our whole selves? Mind, body and soul.
Now to preface this…I’ve got deep German roots. We are typically not the people who lean towards the loud and boisterous when it comes to faith and religion. Think more … reserved and quiet. The charismatic movement is a challenge for most of us. However, the second part of this psalm challenges me. Although there is nothing right or wrong with either approach to our faith. There is a time and place to be quiet and there is a time and place to “sing for joy” to the Lord. Do I do that? It makes me stop and ask myself, is God worthy of some outward sign of my praise and if so, why don’t I give it to Him? Is it really a question of talent or vanity?
The Old Testament gives beautiful examples of people praying to God with their whole mind, bodies, and souls. Think of David dancing and singing for joy in front of the ark of the covenant. Now I know we are not all gifted with the beautiful talents of dancing and singing (my son reminds me on a consistent basis that I cannot carry a tune…LOL😊), BUT what CAN we do with our whole selves as an offering of praise and thanksgiving? How can we incorporate our mind, bodies, and souls in prayer to the One who created us mind, body, and soul?
Last month, I mentioned how God is the rubber and we’re the glue; the praise and thanksgiving we give Him, bounces off Him and sticks to us. He doesn’t need it. We do. Essentially, praise and gratitude make us healthier and w-holier. So, wouldn’t it just make sense to stretch ourselves a little and find a way sometimes to pray to Him with our whole selves?
In the book “Heaven Starts Now” by Fr. John Ricardo, he talks about this point. He mentions how we usually don’t bat an eye about cheering and dancing and singing at a concert or sports game but hesitate when it comes to worshipping God. Isn’t He worth a million more rounds of applause than our team scoring the winning shot? Now, maybe this doesn’t involve foam fingers, but it may look like singing praise and worship music to Him while driving in your car or dancing to it in your kitchen while cooking dinner. Maybe your kids/grandkids will laugh at you or maybe they just might join you? Maybe it’s just singing a little louder at mass or taking a more profound bow or longer genuflect in front of the tabernacle? Maybe its offering your exercise or workout routine to Him or as a sacrifice for someone who is suffering (especially when you really, really don’t want to do it)? Or maybe just praying during a walk? The possibilities are truly endless when you stop and think about it.
For me, SoulCore has helped me develop a whole new appreciation for praying mind, body, and soul. The good news is that God doesn’t require auditions for this. He’ll take whatever we have got to offer Him, including a less than desired fitness level or awkward dance moves or an off-pitch song.
Here’s hoping your Christmas and New Year is full of praise and thanksgiving to the God who always loves us, offered up in new, rare, real and beautiful ways – mind, body, and soul.
Lifting you in prayer & Trusting in His care –
Christine