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Psalm 104:1-9
Praise the LORD, my soul. LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight; they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them. You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth.

Perhaps the writer of today’s psalm knew the danger of self-focus. Maybe he realized the need to get beyond himself and turn his attention to God. Whatever his circumstances he pushed himself to praise. Like a coach yelling encouragement from the sidelines, he encouraged himself  (his soul) to “praise the LORD.”

Praising the Lord is not something we conjure up. Notice that the psalmist bases his worship on the person of God. He reminds himself that God is great and majestic. He is the One who “set the earth on its foundations.” The psalmist prodded himself to praise by recounting God’s person and work.

It is easy to become self-focused. Life hits hard from every direction. Sometimes we withdraw into ourselves to provide needed protection. We put up an emotional shield to defend against painful arrows. The things of life often leads us to a place of self-centeredness. This is not unnatural. But when we stay there too long…that’s when it gets dangerous. Today it’s time for self-exhortation: “Praise the LORD, my Soul”!

Father, coach me by Your Spirit to praise You. Help me turn from self-focus to a life of praise. As I read Your Word remind me of who You are and how You work in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.