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Psalm 48 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within its citadels God has shown himself a sure defense. Then the kings assembled, they came on together. As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic, they took to flight; trembling took hold of them there, pains as of a woman in labor, as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes forever. (Selah) We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with victory. Let Mount Zion be glad, let the towns of Judah rejoice because of your judgments. Walk about Zion, go all around it, count its towers, consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever.
If you stop to think about it, worship is a little bit about you. It's not about you, but you come to realize the need you have in your life for God. It is a time to refresh, reconnect, recharge, and ready yourself for service for God and those who are not yet of God. It is a time of realization that God is always present and always ready to bless and help us. The first words of this psalm sum that up: "Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God." He then shares how even in the midst of what seems to provide protection from enemies, God is needed. What good is a fort or a castle without the presence and power of God? Enemies that may dare show their face against us will see God and flee. Where can we go that we can say that God is not there? When can we say that God has not been victorious?
Take time to worship. Find a quiet place today and just ponder the power of God in your life. Then come the day when you (should) worship, find a fellowship of believers and join them in singing praises to God, praying together, and listening to God's Word read and proclaimed and see again what purpose there is in your life to serve God.
PRAYER: Awesome God, come into the place where I am and bless me. Let me be a blessing to You today and all days, so that others may see Your awesomeness and strength. And dear loving God, you know the enemies I am facing; defeat them. For those facing the enemy of illness, win! For those facing the enemy of helplessness, give power and strength. For whatever enemy may be trying to encamp near me, make them flee! In Christ Jesus' powerful and precious name I pray, amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
