Thoughts from Psalm 71:7-8

As I do my morning Bible reading there are some verses that always hit me right in the chest every time I read them. Well, today it was Psalm 71:7-8

“My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long.”
Psalm 71:7-8

You know, when I was younger I thought being an example meant doing something big for God, something people would notice and admire. But after all these years, I’ve learned it’s a whole lot simpler and a whole lot more humbling than that. Being an example just means people have watched my life, the good days and the really hard ones, and they’ve seen that I didn’t make it through on my own strength. I’ve stumbled, I’ve worried, I’ve had seasons where I didn’t know how we were going to get by, and yet here I am, still standing. Not because I’m strong, but because I had a strong refuge to run to.

That’s what that verse means to me in plain talk. The Lord hasn’t kept trouble from coming, but He’s been the solid rock I could hide in when trouble did come. When my health shook or when I lost loved ones, I ran to Him, and He held me. And people notice that. They don’t need a perfect life to look at, they just need to see a life that keeps turning back to Jesus.

And then that second part, that is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long… I chuckle at that because it took me a long time to learn. When I was growing up, I used to think praise was for Sunday mornings. Now I find myself praising Him all the time, no matter what I’m doing. Not because every day is perfect, but because when you’ve walked with Him this long, you realize He’s been good in every day. Praise just starts to leak out of you.

My little lesson from all these years is this… you don’t have to try to impress anyone for God. Just keep running to Him as your refuge, and let your mouth find little reasons all day long to thank Him. That quiet, steady life of trust and praise says more than any big sermon ever could.

So wherever you are today, go ahead and run to Him again, and let Him fill your mouth with a little praise. He’s been faithful, He is faithful, and He’ll be faithful tomorrow too. May He keep you close and give you peace today.

Have a blessed day!