ZPCBlog

About the author: Cynthia and her husband, John, and their two adult sons, Ryan and Jason, have been attending ZPC since they moved to Zionsville in 2006. Cynthia recently served as an elder, is an active volunteer at the Food Pantry, and coordinates the Intercessory Prayer Team which meets Monday mornings. 

He is the maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them--he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free.     Psalm 146:6-7

What a powerful verse. I was drawn to this Psalm because the words are reassuring, magnificent, encompassing, and miraculous. Our Lord is the Creator, remains faithful forever and sets us free. The mountains and seas are a gorgeous place to feel God’s power and vastness. I’m reassured to know God is with us and is always faithful. Especially, when we doubt it. It doesn’t get any better than that promise. Whether we are at the beginning of our faith journey, in a fight for our lives, or grieving loved ones in this emotional month of Advent, our God is always with us and worthy of praise.

This Psalm comes near the end of the Book of Psalms, totaling 150 in all, which were written to express poetic songs of worship. I learned that The Book of Psalms was the hymnbook of the Old Testament Jews and most of them were written by King David of Israel. According to OpentheBible.org, “The Psalms are a unique treasure of Scripture that connect a believer's head and heart in a rich and vivid way. While most of Scripture delivers words from God to man, the Psalms provide man with Spirit-inspired words to pray and sing to God.”  

Advent is such a time when we are connecting our head and our heart. There’s visible need in our communities, nation, and world of food insecurity, poverty, addiction, and homelessness.God tells us to treat each other with respect, lift each other up with kindness, and be encouraged. God does this with his Son Jesus. We are blessed at ZPC to be able to provide assistance for those seeking prayer, financial assistance, and food with the amazing ministries we offer. It’s a privilege to serve and it demonstrates how as believers we step out in faith to show mercy and kindness with our head and our heart. It also generates miracles on a daily basis for those trusting: a hospital bed becomes available; a utility is paid to allow someone to stay in their home; and the prayer shared for a health need is provided for by the right doctor at the perfect time.  

In reading the Book of Psalms, it encourages readers to start at the beginning. "Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live." Is the beginning of Psalm 146. That’s where I’ll leave you, to let you Praise the Lord for the things in your lives.  

Activity

Think of ways that God has been with you this week in the good, the frustrating, the rush, and the challenging. Even if it isn’t what you wanted the outcome to be, we know God’s faithfulness will bring us though with strength, courage, and an awareness of his love for each of us.

Prayer

Most gracious God, we praise you for walking alongside us in times of joy and times of challenge and know you are faithful. We humbly ask you would put your hand upon us during this final week of Advent as we anticipate the birth of your Son, Jesus.  Reveal your miracles in a way we are confident they are from you. Remind us to put you first in everything we do, and let all glory go to your kingdom. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

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