Here I Raise My Ebenezer

Today is my birthday. Birthdays make me reflect on the past year. I'm always amazed by how much has happened and how where I am now isn't where I thought I'd be a year ago. Birthdays also remind me of how good God is.

Every year, I have a "theme" psalm. I started when I was 15, and the psalm correlates with my age. So this past year, I focused on Psalm 22. As I read it as my "year" psalm for the last time last night, I was amazed by how many verses spoke into my life over the past year. There have been hard times. When I was 21, I really wrestled with God over some things, and I was ready for verses 1 and 2 that ask God why he has forsaken me, crying out to him. But then there is hope. The Holy One is still enthroned despite my questions and heartbreaks.

I come from a family of faith. Verses 4-5 testify to my family's faith in God; they have not been disappointed by the Faithful one. From the time I was born, I was thrust upon the Lord. He has been my God from the womb, just like Psalm 22:9-11 says.

In the past year, I have been afraid. I have felt surrounded by beasts that are threatening me. Just the future can feel like a bull charging at me. In the midst of uncertainties and hard lessons, I have felt weak, like my heart has turned to wax and there is nothing left of me. But the Lord has not been far off, he has rescued me.

Therefore, I will declare the goodness of the Lord to others. I have tried and will continue to try to live my life for the glory of the Lord. He has not left me alone. As I look at the coming year and keep exploring what God has for my life, I wonder how Psalm 22-31 will look in my life. I'm considering ministry or Bible translation. Perhaps God will use my gifts in a very practical way to praise him in the great assembly. Future generations will be told about and serve the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn - for He has done it. May God use me as He will in the coming year(s) of my life, and may He use you, too.

²⁴ For he has not despised or disdained
   the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
   but has listened to his cry for help.

 ²⁵ From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
   before those who fear you^[e] will I fulfill my vows.
²⁶ The poor will eat and be satisfied;
   they who seek the LORD will praise him—
   may your hearts live forever!
²⁷ All the ends of the earth
   will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
   will bow down before him,
²⁸ for dominion belongs to the LORD
   and he rules over the nations.

²⁹ All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
   all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
   those who cannot keep themselves alive.
³⁰ Posterity will serve him;
   future generations will be told about the Lord.
³¹ They will proclaim his righteousness
   to a people yet unborn—
   for he has done it.