The Psalm of the day begins by calling for all of you to give praise to the Great I AM, YHWH, the Living God. It stands in Scripture as the first of three Psalms that open with the word we transliterate – Hallelujah! The “Praise the Lord,” Hallelujah, Psalms are given to provide the believer with words that God accepts as a sweet-smelling offering.

Today, as congregations like this one do most every year, we remember and give thanks for the gifts of God that come to us through Baptism. These are imparted to us by God. They are brought to our memories through the action of the Holy Spirit working in us through our hearing God’s Word. God’s baptismal blessings remain in us as the Spirit strives to keep us united in the good confession of the Faith with those who also bear God’s Family Name.

As you continue to hear God’s Word, to confess your sins and receive His blood-bought absolution, take heart that He will work them in you… to a greater or lesser extent depending upon how much attention you give to your old nature, the world and the forces led by the evil one. The more you are attentive to God’s Word, the more the Holy Spirit will have in you to work against those forces. So, today’s encouragement is to go back to the words of the Psalm: "I will meditate on all Your work, and on all Your mighty deeds I will muse.”