BRAG ABOUT GOD and Make Folk Happy

Psalm 34:2
​My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.
 
Today has been an eventful day. I tried to be aware of God and the impact of God’s ways in my life throughout today in respect to Psalm 34:2. Since reflecting on this passage, I can see how God (i.e. ELOHIM) is teaching me through recent experiences to allow my soul to boast in ELOHIM so that the humble can hear and be glad. As I walked into the building this morning and I started my descent down the stairs, I thanked ELOHIM for this day and the gift of being an MDiv student. I asked Him to help me steward my responsibility well and to help me remain sober in my spirit, soul, and body. This is a prayer that I normally pray at some point in my day. Usually, I pray this prayer when I first come into the building. This prayer helps me focus so that I can be mentally present in my classes to learn. The prayer also helps me center myself so that I can be a healthy associate, friend, and student in the DDS community. More importantly, this prayer helps me honor God and others around me in all that I say and do. ​

I have come to see that my soul has a lot of room to mature in boasting in the LORD. This is something that I’ve become increasingly aware of. The fact that I’ve not been more diligent in boasting in the LORD convicts me. I am encouraged to pause before I speak and correct my thoughts to ensure that I speak well of the nature of ELOHIM, what He has done for me, and what He will do for me. I believe that what you focus on expands. I believe that as my soul focuses on ELOHIM and boasts in Him that He will expand in my life. I like that Psalm 34:2 states that I can boast or resound my praises in the LORD. The passage does not say that I should boast or resound my praise about the LORD. Boasting in the LORD indicates confidence in God, intimacy, and oneness. Unity with ELOHIM is one of my deepest desires. Humbling myself and esteeming the LORD in my soul (i.e. my mind, will, emotions, intellect, seat of affections, etc.) is central to my maturity in God.

I think this passage indicates that when one humbles themselves to boast in the LORD (i.e. speak well of God) that there is a specific group that can hear one’s boasting in the LORD. That specific group is those who are humble and once they hear the boasting, they can be glad. Doing something that causes someone to be glad or to have joy is such a tremendous mutual blessing to the doer and the receiver. I’ve found that this kind of mutual blessing is also contagious. It is critical to know that this mutual blessing is reliant on one boasting in God at the volume and rate of consistency that their boasting can be heard by others.  

Prayer:
Adonai Shamma, I honor You and give You thanks for all that You are and all that You’ve done for me. Forgive me for being distracted in life and not keeping my mind stayed on You so that I can speak well of You and enjoy the riches of Your glory. Thank You for the grace to think of Your goodness and the desire to immediately boast in You with genuine words and a pure heart that affects all who are around me. Thank You for giving me the words, the volume and the consistency to speak well of You so that the humble around me can be glad. And the praise of Your splendor and light penetrate darkness so that the proud can begin to seek after you. Thank You, LORD, for hearing my prayer. These and all blessings I receive in Jesus’s Name. Amen.

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written by Myrina K. Robinson
Duke Divinity School MDiv 2022
Guest Blogger for BWET Blog ​