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Today's reading: Psalm 146-148

"...The Lord lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their loads." Psalm 146:8 NLT

"...The Lord raiseth them that are bowed down..." Psalm 146:8 KJV

My grandmother was an advocate of the 'No Slouching' rule of thumb.

If she saw you with slack shoulders, she would reprimand you.

If she saw you sitting hunched over, she would remind you of good posture.

If she saw you practicing the piano, at the kitchen table or watching TV with a slouch, she would have you stand, place your hands beside your hips, turn your palms outward, thus correcting your shoulder alignment and posture.

Grandma was like God in that aspect, many aspects, but especially this one.

God doesn't want us bent over. He wants us standing proud, strong and tall.

He wants those around us to know Whose we are by our posture.

He desires that we remember by Whose blood we have been ransomed by how we carry ourselves.

He reminds us to allow Him to carry the heavy loads that keep our hearts and minds weighed down and burdened. Loads we are not designed to carry.

Stand up straight, Grandma Lawrence would say.

Let me take that off your shoulders so you can stand tall, God says.