Communications experts tell us that the average person speaks enough to fill 20 single-spaced, typewritten pages every day. This means our mouths crank out enough words to fill 2 books of 300 pages each month, 24 books each year, and 1,200 books in 50 years of speaking. Thanks to phones, voicemail, and face-to-face conversations, words comprise a large part of our lives. So the kinds of words we use are important.

The psalmist's mouth was filled with praise when he wrote Psalm 126. The Lord had done great things for him and his people. Even the nations around them noticed. Remembering God's blessings, he said, "Our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing" (v.2).

What words would you have used in verse 3 had you been writing this psalm? So often, our attitude may seem to be: "The Lord has done great things for me, and I—
   . . . can't recall any of them right now."
   . . . am wondering what He'll do for me next."
   . . . need much more."

Or can you finish it by saying, "And I am praising and thanking Him for His goodness"? As you recall God's blessings today, express your words of praise to Him.  — Anne Cetas