Ginny Owens - Love Be The Loudest - The Overflow DevoSample

How Much More

I love the beautifully honest, vulnerable way the Psalms teach us to pray. The Psalmists hold nothing back from God--pouring out to Him their joys, sorrows, anger, and frustration--hardly ever ending their prayers discouraged. When they’re struggling, they remind their hearts of God’s goodness in years past, and how He has promised to always be faithful to them. The writer of Psalm 42 and 43 is in agony. He’s overwhelmed by his dark season but reflects on the good days. Over and over, He begs God to rescue him, but he also preaches to his soul the good news of God’s faithfulness:

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” (Ps. 42:5-6)

The Psalmist says to himself, “If I keep telling my heart what my mind knows is true, my heart will finally overflow with worship!” In Eugene Peterson’s words, “…all prayer pursued far enough, becomes praise.”

Jesus tells His followers not to waste time worrying, but remind yourself of the truth. “Look at the birds in the sky. They do not store food for winter…and yet, they are always fed because your Heavenly Father feeds them. And you are even more precious to Him than a beautiful bird. If He looks after them, of course He will look after you.” (Mat. 6:26, The Voice)

As I remind myself of the beautiful truth of God’s love toward me, my gratitude and praise grow, and my worry fades. Preach to yourself what your mind knows about God’s perfectly powerful and tender love until your heart erupts in praise!