to him who alone does great wonders,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who by understanding made the heavens,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who made the great lights,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

I came to the section below where the psalmist is recounting specific events in Israel’s history in which God proved his steadfast love for his people. And the Lord prompted my heart with the idea of writing my own song of praise to God. So here’s what I did. In every phrase below where a specific event from Israel’s history is recounted, I included an event from my life that clearly shows God’s goodness and steadfast love to me. There are 13 events listed in this next section, so that gives you the opportunity to think of just 13 ways God has shown his love to you.

I’ve written out the next section below in case that makes it easier for you to try it right here:

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
and brought Israel out from among them,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who led his people through the wilderness,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

In my prayer, I included events like:
“you saved my soul from sin and death”
“you gave me parents who love you and trained me to do the same”
“you gave me a husband who passionately follows you with his entire being”
“you led us so clearly to Concord, NH”
“you have allowed my children to attend a great Christian school”

There’s something about the repetition of saying “for his steadfast love endures forever” that really gets the point across and embeds the truth deep in your soul, right where it needs to be. I prayed this song to God while taking a walk outside and stared away from the road so innocent passers-by would not be assaulted by my tear-stained face. And then I ended with the final words from Psalm 136:

It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
and rescued us from our foes,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
he who gives food to all flesh,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

God is so good to us, isn’t he? If you find yourself struggling to remember God’s goodness today—or even if you’re just feeling overwhelmed like I was—I encourage you to take some time to pray through this psalm to God and remind your soul of his faithfulness to you. God’s steadfast love far, far outlasts all of your struggles.