Psalm 33:1-4, 21

Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.

Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.

For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.

In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.

Creative Composer and Conductor,

You've written a symphonic song in my soul fit for a King. My heart is the harp that harmoniously believes You. Mastering the magnificence of Your mercy, my mind makes a marvelous accompaniment. With clean hands, pure motives, my eyes on You and a lot of practice, I'm able to perform a concerto of thankful praise worthy of Your holy ears.

Long before Handel, Mozart or Beethoven, You orchestrated a work of unequaled portions. Your Holy Word is a classical masterpiece that perfectly expresses truth and righteousness. Larger than life, it contains drama, death, rebirth, strife, and resistance. The fact that it is still published, respected, recognized and read worldwide after thousands of years is a testament to its power and impact. The more I read it and know it, the more impressed I am with it, and the more I appreciate it.

Please dear Lord, help me to develop an exquisite taste for the harmonization of Your Holy Composition. With my eyes fixed on You, my ears tuned to You, and my heart set on You, I'll use every endowment I possess to rhythmically pursue You. My heart will be full of holy joy and goodness as I earnestly love others in Your name, meticulously playing each self-contained movement as an opus of divine praise.

Watching from Your lofty throne in heaven, You won't miss my glorious showing of grace. In unison with You, my heart will perform the Hallelujah Chorus because of Your holy Name. May Your unfailing love rest on me, O Lord, because I put my hope in You. Amen.

Praise is appropriate and fitting of anyone who has clean hands and a pure heart. Even if you can't play an instrument, you ARE the instrument. You are part of God's Great Symphony. You will accompany Him beautifully when your heart is in unison with His.

His Word is the most famous composition ever written. If you haven't developed a keen interest in it, Mozart's biographer says in his book that "The masterpieces of the Romans and Greeks please more and more through repeated reading, and as one's taste is refined - the same is true for both expert and amateur with respect to the hearing of Mozart's music [or classical music]." The bottom line: the more you know a piece the better it becomes.

The same is true of your Bible, God's Holy Composition, the more you read it and know it, the more impressed you'll be with it, and the more you'll appreciate it. Before you know it, you'll have acquired an exquisite taste for it, and be filled with holy joy!

Live a life of praise by following the most Creative Composer and Conductor of all time!

Lamentations 3:25-26

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.

Merciful Lord,
I'm thankful for Your on-going instruction on how to wait for You. When I feel lost and alone, I shouldn't grumble, complain or make a lot of noise. Rather, I should be still, silently expecting You to lead me to the good fortune I'm seeking.

You'll open up the sacred Treasure Chest of Scripture when we're alone together. Diligently, I'll dig through it perusing each costly command and precious promise. While I wait, I'll ponder them, prayerfully asking You, the Owner, perplexing questions. In response, You'll give me a complete understanding of Your amazing grace and incredible love. I'll discover that there is nothing more valuable than Your priceless blood that purchased my pardon. Accepting it will prosper me with glorious power to endure problems and pressures peacefully. Carrying the bright and beautiful jewels of power, peace and patience in my heart will illuminate the Way through the darkness of difficulty to heaven where I can anticipate living happily ever after with You.

Jesus, You are the Good Fortune that I seek. In You, are all the riches of heaven that will satisfy the deepest desires of my heart. Please give me more patience to seek You while I wait for the glory of Your name. Amen.

What are you seeking while you wait for your trial to end?

I encourage you to peruse your Bible for God's commands and promises while you wait. Examine them carefully. Cover them in prayer. When you do, you'll discover the Good Fortune you've always been seeking and be satisfied.