Psalm 138:2

Bowing down signifies humility and submission to God’s authority. The temple was the earthly dwelling place of God, showing how he lives amongst his people. Giving thanks to God’s name acknowledges God’s character and attributes. In the Hebrew culture, a name was more than just something we’re called; it represented who we are as a person. God’s name stands for holiness, power, and faithfulness in our relationship with him. “Unfailing love” is the Hebrew word chesed, which denotes God’s loyal love and kindness. Faithfulness refers to God’s reliability and trustworthiness in fulfilling His promises. God’s name represents His identity and reputation, while His Word describes his commands, promises, and revelation. Lifting them up describes its importance and reliability.

Give thanks for God’s devotion and faith. God’s devotion to us wants to make sure that we do not crumble under the pressure of the world. God wants to ensure that we are doing what he has taught us to do, gifting us the skills and resources to do it, and ensuring that we are receiving enough to keep ourselves going each and every day. God wants to make sure that we are thriving in the world he created and understands that it’s difficult given the evil that has invaded our world. God wants us to stay faithful to the plan he has before us, knowing that he is with us every step of the way. He has the faith in us to do what he’s called us, we also need to keep our faith in him that he will provide for us and fight our battles for us. It’s easy to see the evil and want to give up, but we can’t. Too many people are suffering right now. Too many people are losing their quality right to life. Too many people are running into situations where they are unnecessarily facing severe consequences from other people’s mistakes and irrational issues. We need to still fight like anything to ensure that our community is being taken care of – physically, mentally, and emotionally. I am writing this just after the days of the “Big Beautiful Bill” passing and watching our government strip away needed benefits for families in order to survive. I’m like 99% sure it’s under the guise of “to ensure that no one is taking advantage of the system” but I don’t truly know. What I know is that people are hurting, people are scared, people are angry – and we need to stand and speak for the people. We need to do this now – not wait for the government to right the ship – but take initiative. Donate to your local food pantry if you have excess. Talk to your neighbors to ensure they are not in need. Get together with your community to plant a local garden. Share resources wherever you can, and trust that God is watching us all closely and tightly to provide for all of us.

Next slice of manna: Manna for the Mind #236