I've had this popular praise song running through my head and heart for several days. It goes something like Awake, my soul, and sing His praise, sing His praise aloud! I decided I needed to find the verse that it was based on since I was certain it was a scripture. Funniest thing, I found it in one of my go-to, favorite Psalms. It wasn't Psalm 31 - which I used to write a devotional called 31 Days in Psalm 31... It was another go-to passage, Psalm 57.
I had memorized the first verse of the 57th Psalm in 1986, when I was so ill. It's remained one of my foundational scriptures even through caregiving. I use it as a prayer and as a reminder to trust God as my refuge day after day. So, I was a little surprised to find this verse nestled in familiar territory. Verse 8 says Away my glory! Awake harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. (NASB)
One of the things that has become a norm in my caregiving journey is talking to myself. It's just part of the trip. I would call a family meeting - but I'd be the only one there anyway! Lol. I find it oddly satisfying and slightly amusing that David talked to himself, too. Well, what did you expect from someone who spent years in a cave running from Saul? We read how he encouraged himself in the Lord after the losses at Ziklag. I'd say he's a pretty good example for us caregivers.
Today is a good day to remind ourselves that not one thing about God changed when we became a caregiver. We can still sing praise to our Creator. He is still merciful and faithful. He didn't make His peace, mercy, or grace off-limits to caregivers. Instead, He wraps us in them as He carries us through each day.
Today, I will remind my soul to sing God's praise. My meditations will be on how faithfully He's carried me to this spot, a place where I learn to trust Him more each day. I'll think about His all-sufficient grace that doesn't stop at the edge of caregiving but extends as far as we need it each day. I'll tell my soul to sing of the One who loves me right where I am. And I'll remind myself that He is still trustworthy. He knows me. So, I'll trust Him for one more day. Will you join me?
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Just Released!
I finished publishing Affirmations for Caregivers last night! It contains an affirmation, a verse or two to read, and a prompt for a very short response for each day. One of my favorite quotes so far is from Day 25, "He knows how hard it is for a broken heart to trust, so He cradles it gently in His love." You can download the eBook from the Dove's Fire Ministries Bookstore right now and print it and and start today! It will also be published in print form on Amazon in the next few days. I'll let you know when it goes live!
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