The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotion" for Tuesday, 18 August 2015 Scripture: Psalms 34:15-22

The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotion" for Tuesday, 18 August 2015 Scripture: Psalms 34:15-22
Tuesday, 18 August 2015
Psalm 34:15 (14) turn from evil, and do good;

seek peace, go after it!

16 (15) The eyes of Adonai watch over the righteous,

and his ears are open to their cry.

17 (16) But the face of Adonai opposes those who do evil,

to cut off all memory of them from the earth.

18 (17) [The righteous] cried out, and Adonai heard,

and he saved them from all their troubles.

19 (18) Adonai is near those with broken hearts;

he saves those whose spirit is crushed.

20 (19) The righteous person suffers many evils,

but Adonai rescues him out of them all.

21 (20) He protects all his bones;

not one of them gets broken.

22 (21) Evil will kill the wicked,

and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.[Complete Jewish Bible]
How often do you say the words "thank you?" Whom are you usually thanking throughout the day? Do you say it or write it enough to those deserving of your appreciation?
Teaching my kids that their manners should be automatic requires constant effort. They are usually pretty good, but they need reminders. I remember my father when I was growing up even regularly telling people "Thanks for saying Thanks." Are we as quick to say thanks to God? Are we, like the psalmist, able to have our praise for the Lord be continually in our mouths?
Maybe we think we don't know how to thank God. But it's not as hard as you might think. Start by saying the words "Thanks be to God." When you pray you might even use the model of thanksgiving seen in the words of Psalm 34 and lift up the moments of praise from your day. Then you might find that even in your worst of days God is still shining through you.
Thank you God for this day and for teaching us how to praise you in all of our days. Bless us to be radiant in you and give happiness to all who seek refuge in you. Amen.
John Klawiter
Associate Pastor, Prince of Peace Lutheran, Roseville, Minn.
Master of Divinity, 2012
Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all.
20 He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. [New Revised Standard Version]
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