STILL I WILL

Praise the Lord, my soul;
All my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
And forget not all his benefits—

Who forgives all your sins
And heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit
And crowns you with love and compassion,
Who satisfies your desires with good things
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:1-5).

The years have flown by. I've grown older, and my children are older. They have their own kids who have grown from little baby to young adult and even older in the blink of an eye. My mother passed on this year; my father is slowing down, and my time to pass on is definitely closer. Time has moved on, but I'm so thankful that my heart has been youthfully renewed each day by the love Jesus placed in it over fifty-seven years ago.

This psalm speaks my heart this morning. I praise Him no matter how much physical or emotional pain I may bear–no matter what happens around me, because He has never failed me in all the years that I have loved and served Him. All my being praises Him this morning... my heart is full...my soul is His, and I have nothing to fear. Remembering all that He has done inspires me to still believe in His perfect promises–those pearls He has given which I may or may not see in this life. I still believe. I still trust. I still honor His love which gave all for me.

He has forgiven all of my sins–not just some, but all. Each one forgiven. He has redeemed my life from the greatest hell of despair and torment. Throughout my life there have been amazing years of healing of heartbreak, fear, worry, hurt, broken relationships, illnesses, and even cancer. He has been so faithful to me. There are still some relationships to be healed, emotions to be faced, and only He knows what is ahead. In all of these things, He is still faithful to me.

He has crowned my life with His love, and I pray each day for His love and compassion to live in me. He has filled my life with more than I could ever want. I am full each day of the wonder of His presence. In all the years I have have known Him, each day is new and full and joyful in Him. And in that joy–as long as I am able–I will continue to write, continue to pray, continue to believe, continue to serve, continue to rejoice. I belong to Him, and that makes all things possible. I know I am never alone, He holds my hand as the years fly by, and one day, when He calls, I will walk with Him into eternity. Holding my hand, just as He always has, He will lead me into that for which my heart has always longed. And no longer will I only partially experience His glory. I will see Him face to face. And I will know Him fully as He has always known me.