You, Lord, are like the mountains.

You surround us, protect us, and inspire us.

You, Lord, make us like mountains.

You cause us to become strong, enduring, and unshakable.

Be my mountain today Lord.

Make me a mountain today Lord.

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When I look back over my life, I see one thing clearly: you are for us.  You are on our side.

There was that time when dangerous people made my life so difficult!

But you rescued me.

There was that time when all my carefully constructed plans suddenly collapsed!

But you saved me.

There’s not a single doubt in my mind.

You are for us.

You are on our side.

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Lord, you may be sought and found anywhere.

Wherever we are, you are.

But there are also special places for seeking and finding:

sanctuaries,

chapels,

monasteries,

mountains.

The places and spaces where your people gather for praise and petition are perfect for discovering the divine.

So, for these places and spaces, I pray for peace.  Peace among members.  Harmony between worshipers.

May the House of the Lord be filled with peace.

May I seek you today where you wish to be found.

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My son says, “Watch me!”

He wants whatever he’s doing to be the object of my loving gaze.

Like child to father, I say the same to you, Lord.  “Watch me!”

But before I get the words out, you make it clear to me that whatever I’m doing is already the object of your loving gaze.

You are already watching.

You watch me when the sun’s up and when the moon’s up.

You watch me when I come and when I go.

You watch me today and you will watch me tomorrow.

Even when my eyes close in sleep, yours do not.

Even when I’m not watching you, you are watching over me.

I’m thankful for many things, Lord.

But above all, I’m thankful that you watch me.

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I’ve never considered myself wise, Lord.

Most have more common sense than I.

Many celebrate smarts greater than mine.

Sometimes I feel like the Scarecrow–”I would not be just a nuffin’; My head all full of stuffin’; My heart all full of pain; I would dance and be merry; Life would be a ding-a-derry; If I only had a brain.”

But your Word, Lord–it makes me wise!

The more I ponder it, the more insight I gain.

The more I practice it, the more intelligence I’m given.

I feel like the Scarecrow–”The sum of the square roots of any two sides of an isosceles triangle is equal to the square root of the remaining side. Oh joy! Rapture! I got a brain! How can I ever thank you enough?”

Exactly–how can I ever thank you enough?

Thank you for the insight I find in the Word you’ve given.

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Lord, I’m telling everyone everywhere–”His love endures forever!”

It’s the most important thing I’m learning about you.

It’s the most important thing I’m sharing about you.

Your love endures forever.

When I look back through the story of my life, I see this truth on every page.

When I rewind the movie of humanity, this quality appears on every frame.

Your love is endless.

I shout praise to you Lord because your love never gives in, runs out, dries up, or winds down.

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Lord, your love is long-lasting.  It never ends.

Your faithfulness is ever-present.  It never quits.

That’s why I long for the day when all the world will worship you.

That’s why I dream of the day when all the  peoples will praise you.

My greatest wish is for the world-wide worship of the One who leaves me speechless.

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When you rescued Israel from Egypt, the earth trembled.

The Red Sea took one look at you and ran like a fugitive.

The plains jumped like a scared cat.

The mountains quaked like a frightened child.

Just as your creation and your wisest creatures do, may I too tremble in your presence.

Teach me to tremble.

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I praise you Lord!

When?

During every tick of the second hand, every chime of the hour, every day of the week, every week of the month, and every month of the year.

Where?

On every square foot the sun touches from sunrise to sunset.  From north to south.  From east to west.

Why?

Because you are so high.  You are so exalted.  Your throne is so elevated.  You have to stoop to see the heavens and the earth.

But, you are also so low.  You draw near to the most humble human.  The man with nothing but dust to his name.  The woman with only tears for family.  You replace their pain with pleasure.

That’s why I praise you Lord!  I worship you at all times in all places because you are so high and so low.

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