A Cheerful Mind

“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good … Give thanks to the God of gods … To Him who alone does great wonders … to Him who by wisdom made the heavens, for His mercy endures forever.” – Psalm 136:1-5

When just 15 years old, the poet John Milton wrote the hymn, “Let Us with a Gladsome Mind.” At the time he was just a pupil at St. Paul’s School in London. This hymn was a paraphrase of Psalm 136 – written for his own pleasure, or perhaps written to please his father. In any case, this demonstrated how important God was to him.

He went on to write more complex works, peaking with Paradise Lost, one of the most influential epic poems ever written. But Milton also impacted lives with the simplicity of this hymn. Even at an early age, he was moved by the message of Psalm 136, with its repetition of the phrase “For His mercy endures forever.” In his paraphrase, Milton ended each verse, “for His mercies shall endure, ever faithful, ever sure.”

Like Psalm 136 itself, Milton’s hymn detailed ways God shows mercy. He is kind and is above all gods. “He with all-commanding might filled the new-made world with light.”

God feeds us and supplies all our needs, just as He provided for His people during their 40 years in the wilderness. He sees our condition and looks out for us. We should respond, as Milton suggested, by declaring His praises. “For His mercies shall endure, ever faithful, ever sure.”

Today, remember that God is faithful. You can trust Him. He is worthy of praise.

Reflection Question: Reflect on God’s enduring mercy in your own life.