Tell Me a Story

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the LORD.
Psalm 107:1,43

Telling and retelling stories is one of the most basic ways people communicate. From the birth of language, humans have remembered and shared.

For the people of God, storytelling is more than a mere accounting; the telling of stories is the telling of the story, of God’s relationship with his people. From the song recounting God’s deliverance of his people out of Egypt (see Exodus 15:1 – 18) through Peter’s and Paul’s testimonies about the reality of Jesus’ life and purpose, we can see “the loving deeds of the LORD.”

The anonymous writers of some of the psalms richly recount God’s deeds through the centuries. What moves them to move others, to remember together? It is the pull of worship. “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name” (Psalm 105:1). “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm 106:1; 107:1).

But listen. Centuries later, having come down through the years to us, is a quiet recounting. A young woman speaks of the Lord’s faithful love, how he has blessed her, how he has blessed his people, how he has revealed his goodness. Yet the quiet recounting, found in Luke 1:46 – 55, is known by a grand name: the Magnificat.

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,” Mary begins. “For the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name” (Luke 1:46 – 47,49).

Reflect on your history with God. Like Mary, rejoice with a song of praise in your heart.

PRAYER
O Lord, as I think of my years with you, I think of …