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Psalm 103:19-22
The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, my soul.

I was reflecting on my prayer life recently and concluded that I have been doing more whining than praying. I was focused on letting God know that He was slow in delivering my wants and He was holding back on my desires. My conversation was one way and consisted of statements in the form of questions like, “God, what are You doing?” I have been talking at God instead of with Him.

This psalm gave me needed pause and perspective. In the first eighteen verses David declares the limitless love of the eternal God who takes our sin and separates it as far as the east is from the west. This God is the very One whose “kingdom rules over all.” Make no mistake, He is God and He is in charge. How am I to respond to such a loving and great God? Quit whining and start praising!

David concludes by declaring that all the angels, all creation and all God’s servants should praise the Lord. David closes this psalm in the same way he started it. He exhorts himself (“my soul”) to live a life of praise. As children of God, we must exhort ourselves to do the same.

Father, thank You for allowing me to pour my heart out to You—my wants and desires. But don’t let me turn my conversation with You into a time of whining. Help me praise You for who You are and how You