On Psalm 116
“I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications, because he hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.”
I love the Lord because He heard the frightened cries of my childhood.
He answered me, He saved me because --
He knew me in eternity past.
He drew me, died for me, kept me – and continues to do so -- in eternity present.
He will glorify me in eternity future.
“Even a child is known by his doings, whether his works be pure and whether they be right.”
Therefore, I will call upon Him for as long as I live.
I love the Lord because He heard the longings, the joys, and the tensions of my youth.
He answered His child, He guided my way --
He taught me.
He gave me Godly parents and grandparents to remind me of the lessons I was to learn.
He positioned His people in my life to show me, to love me, to correct me, to encourage me.
He enabled me to learn, to grow, to see beyond myself. He has not stopped.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”
Therefore, I will seek to obey Him for as long as I live.
I love the Lord because He knows of the uprisings and my downsittings of my adult years--
He hears my grief in loss, my fears, my lonelinesses, in service, my worries concerning provision, my insecurities, my nastinesses, my hard-heartedness, my failures – He knows it all.
He comforts me.
He reassures me of His presence.
He reproves me.
He provides for me.
He forgives me.
His still small voice whispers peace to my soul.
“Like as a father pitieth his child . . . He remembers our frame, He knows that we are dust.”
He also hears my joys, my excitements, my successes, my contentments …
He comforts me.
He challenges me.
He loves me.
He gave me husband, sons, lovely daughters, grandchildren, a home, and purpose to fulfill.
His still small voice whispers assurance to my soul.
“Therefore, seeing we have a kingdom that cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”
Therefore, I will thank Him.
I love the Lord because He already knows the future – it is written by His hand, and it will be guided by His promise to never leave me or forsake me.
He has promised me a future with Him – a table prepared by Him.
He has promised to walk through the valley of the shadow of death
He knows each step and in this final wilderness, all I have to do is follow.
Therefore, I will trust Him, and I will not be afraid.
What, then, can I render to the Lord for all of His benefits?
By His grace and undergirded by His hand,
I will thank Him – continually
I will confess -- readily
I will praise Him – daily
I will worship Him --abandonly
I will serve Him -- faithfully
I will obey Him – instantly
As God enables, I will walk by faith, I will pay my vows to Him, and I will trust in His grace as long as He gives me breath.
“Praise ye the Lord.” Amen
Janet Hicks, 2026
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