I have roses outside my front door, and I walk past them almost every day without a second glance. They grow each year despite my lack of gardening skills. But as I was reading Psalm 66 this morning, I was inspired to stop and smell the roses.

And not just the roses in my front yard. God has blessed me abundantly with his grace, peace, and joy.

Psalm 66 is a beautiful reminder to refocus my heart on God’s faithfulness. By recounting His past deliverances, I see His unwavering power and reliability for my future. Here are three lessons that stood out to me:

Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of his name;  make his praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name. -Psalm 66:1-4

1. Recognize God’s Might

Thinking about how God has been faithful in the past naturally leads us to approach Him with deep respect. Recognizing how he has delivered His people gives us hope that He’ll redeem our stories as well.

“Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.'” Psalm 66:3

2. Pursue Purity and Forgiveness

Psalm 66 reminds us to pursue a pure heart and to forgive others as we’ve been forgiven. As we focus our eyes on the Lord, He’ll align our wills to His and then as

“If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Psalm 66:18

3. Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty

Recognizing that God controls everything, even during trials, brings us comfort and joy. Psalm 66 encourages us to worship with gratitude, count our blessings even in tough times, and share God’s faithfulness with others.

“For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver… we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.” Psalm 66:10-12

Put it into Practice.

Read Psalm 66 and then journal your blessings.

Take a few minutes to write down specific instances where you’ve seen God’s faithfulness in your life. This will help you recognize His ongoing work and increase your gratitude.

Praying for you!