One way to get better acquainted with God is to read through the psalms, watch for statements pertaining to him, and write them down.
That last step is important, as research has proven: writing (not typing) helps us learn and retain what we’ve written [1]. In this case it will also increase our appreciation of God’s glorious attributes and gracious acts on our behalf.
I chose to participate in this exercise during Advent, and became astonished by the number of statements about God, totaling over three hundred by the time I reached Psalm 150. I even skipped over those that I remembered listing previously.
Some psalms offer a number of statements about God, one after another. Psalm 23 includes nine, Psalm 103, sixteen, and Psalm 145, twenty.
Perhaps that explains why these psalms are among the favorites of many people. Subconsciously we crave reassurance of God’s power, wisdom, and goodness working on our behalf.
A lesser-known psalm perhaps, #71, offers seven encouraging descriptors of God:
He is our sovereign Lord (v. 5) over all things, even our blunders and regrets.
No matter my poor choices, God can redeem them. “Our mistakes can never thwart the sovereign will of God” [2].
How thankful I am for that!
He is the One who’s been my hope and confidence since my youth (v. 5).
I’ve been a Jesus-follower since age four. Never have I toyed with the idea of abandoning my faith in him, because I learned early on from the saints around me:
- God is a good and loving Father
- There is purpose in everything God does
- He will bring me through whatever I might face
- He is accomplishing a good and eternal work in my life [3]
I’d be foolish to turn my back on Someone so invested in my welfare.
God is splendorous (v. 8).
We could surely add more attributes to Brooks’ list. God provides so many wonderful, spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)!
He is the One who performs marvelous, mighty, and righteous deeds (vs. 16-18).
In truth, “The whole world is a series of miracles, but we’re so used to them we call them ordinary things” [4].
May we rediscover the wonder of God’s deeds in evidence all around us, and respond with gratitude and praise.
He is the One who’s taught me since my youth (v. 17).
Over time I’ve come to cherish God’ Word. And even though I’ve spent many happy hours in study, its inspiration never grows old.
That is very good news.
God is the One whose righteousness reaches up to the heavens (v. 19).
That’s good news too, because “there is no perfect life, no perfect job, no perfect childhood, no perfect marriage, and no set of people who always do what we expect them to do.
“What we do have is a perfect God who is able to lead us through this imperfect life with unfailing strength, infallible wisdom, and infinite love”—Unknown.
Praise God for his attentive participation in our lives!
He is the One who’s done great things. Who is like You, God (v. 19)?
All of these descriptors, among the dozens of others proclaimed in the psalms, do make clear:
P.S. My list of God-descriptors has become the basis for personal worship. Each morning I slowly read and pray back to him one page of the collected statements. The practice renews wonder and gratitude for my marvelous Heavenly Father.
Perhaps you’d like to try it too?
[1] Denise Hughes, Deeper Waters, 89.
[2] Bev Rihtarchik, contributor to A Moment to Breathe, 151.
[3] Dr. Charles Stanley, Advancing through Adversity, 101.
[4] Hans Christian Andersen
Photo credits: http://www.pxhere.com; Nancy Ruegg; http://www.flickr.com; http://www.pickpik.com; http://www.canva.com (2).
From the Inside Out 