Personalizing Psalm 136
Updated: Aug 20, 2021
One of my favorite things to do when reading God’s word is personalizing it with my name and experiences. Recently I found myself meditating on Psalm 136. I noticed how, in between every declaration that God’s love endures forever, there was a statement of remembrance and gratitude for who He is and what He had done.
So I thought, what would it look like to write this out and document how God has moved so specifically in my life over the years? It would basically be a timeline of God’s hand in my story with this bold reminder that His love endures forever whether I'm on the mountain or in the valley. Here is what I wrote:
Psalm 136 personalized:
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
To Him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
Who by His understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
Who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
Who made the great lights,
His love endures forever.
The sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
The moon and stars to vern the night;
His love endures forever.
Who brought me out of Egypt,
His love endures forever.
Who established us and provided for my family and I in a foreign land,
His love endures forever.
Who protected me during the valley of teenage years,
His love endures forever.
Who led a youth pastor my way when I was 17 to pray over me and awaken my spirit to The Holy Spirit,
His love endures forever.
Who enabled me to graduate high school, college and complete my masters program,
His love endures forever.
Who blessed me with a man who fears Him to be my earthly companion,
His love endures forever.
Who directed our steps from Maine, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania during Graham’s medical school journey,
His love endures forever.
Who advanced me in my counseling career,
His love endures forever.
Who comforted us when we struggled to have a child,
His love endures forever.
Who answered our prayers and gave us a son in 2016,
His love endures forever.
Who opened the door for me to work from home through our faith based wellness business,
His love endures forever.
Who has provided our daily needs daily,
His love endures forever.
Who consistently reminds me who He is and who I am in Him,
His love endures forever.
Who is patient when I stumble and forget His promises,
His love endures forever.
Who allows difficult times to keep me humble and reliant on Him,
His love endures forever.
Who is faithful no matter the outcome,
His love endures forever.
Who continues to write our story,
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven,
His love endures forever.
(End).
Powerful right? And in case you were wondering, He really did bring my family and I up out of Egypt in 2000 and moved us to the US!
As I began documenting and remembering, I began to experience His peace and a reminder of His unchanging character and faithfulness. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Whatever I’m facing or trying to navigate today...He is already there and is leading me. I simply need to humbly follow and trust in Him because He can be trusted. Share this with a friend that needs this reminder today!
My invitation to you today is to write out your timeline while declaring His goodness and never ending love. Print it. Frame it. Remember it! And if you're willing, share it in the comments!
