As We lean into Listening to HIS Heartbeat for this month of February, the title for this Newsletter came very softly and sweetly… (22 FOR 22). The Lord is speaking in various ways to those who will inquire and have a desired listening ear to hear what HIS Spirit is saying. One of the ways HE shares HIS heart with us is through HIS written Word. The Word of God holds a treasure Chest of rich pearls for us to behold. There are Instructions in HIS WORD, with exhortations, and clear pathway routes as we navigate homeward bound. Wisdom is to be had, to cling to, and with priceless manifested visitations from HIM as we meditate on these jewels. We have been challenged from HIM this year to memorize 22 verses from HIS WORD this year. And the 22 HE specified are out of Psalm 103 from The Passion Translation. We believe this is not for a selected few, but for each of us as HIS Redeemed. So…. Why this particular 22? What are The Pearls for us to take hold of out of this Psalm? Any time We set our hearts to memorize portions of HIS Word, it is not an academic pursuit… but it is for the burning upon our hearts to glean and grow. There is undeniably a heart posture that is on display in this vivid expression from the Psalmist. David is the writer of this Psalm and we can clearly see he is very grateful, passionate, and all surrendered in his relationship to The Lord. This Psalm has exactly 22 verses that are exploding with descriptions of love and wonder as the Psalmist expresses his heart as he reviews the miracles of kindness that The Lord has given to him.( verse 2). Psalm 103 is not written by a casual seeker, or one that aims only to escape hell. These are the words penned by a Lover of Jesus. One that is sincerely grateful and counts the blessings and also describes them and what God has done. This Psalm is from the heart of a Worshipper. God is looking for true Worshippers who will worship HIM in Spirit and in Truth. (John 4:23). This is the heartfelt manifestation of The First and greatest commandment. If ever a time for True Worshippers were needed to emerge and take position it surely is now. The World has truly lost its compass and people all around are hopeless and in crisis. But God’s True Worshippers that are statically positioned by HIM for such a time as this carry HIS fragrance as they live out fully surrendered lives to the only one worthy of all of our Praise. This Psalm begins and is titled, A Psalm of David. Charles Spurgeon wrote of Psalm 103 that we should attribute the writing to the later years of David’s Life when he had a higher sense of the preciousness of the pardon, and with a keener sense of sin than in his younger days. G. Campbell Morgan stated of Psalm 103 that it is perhaps the most perfect Song of pure Praise to be found in The Bible, and that through the Centuries it has been sung by glad hearts and today is as fresh and full of beauty as ever. The Background of the Psalm when David was writing this is unclear, but what is clear is a desire on the part of David to Praise God for all that HE has done. David speaks of God’s personal blessings, HIS forgiving love, and he ends with a universal call for all of believers to praise The Lord. The fact is, God is deserving of our Praise. This Psalm has been incorporated in hymns and has often been set to music. What does it mean to Bless The Lord? It simply means to Praise, exalt and worship HIM. Specifically it means to express humble adoration of God. This Passage of 22 verses reveals a love relationship. David understood that worship had to be more than superficial, it had to be offered completely as possible. He wanted all within him to Praise God. We are to be burning ones for HIM. Are you up for the challenge of meditating and memorizing, and allowing this Psalm through asking HIM in prayer to be sealed upon your heart. Are you yielded to become more of a Passionate worshipper of Jesus recounting HIS blessings and giving Him Sincere Praise with your whole heart, Your whole life, your innermost being? Can you truly identify with David and say of The Lord, Yaweh, YOU are my Soul’s celebration? Does you life express one that has not forgotten the miracles of kindness that HE has kissed your heart with in spite of all you have ever done? Do you truly know that HE has rescued you from hell and saved your life crowing you with love and mercy? These 22 verses speak volumes of the character and nature of Almighty God. It does us well to reflect upon HIS attributes.