Alignments. Cars need them periodically after we’ve hit too many potholes or jumped too many curbs. Our bodies may need them, if our neck or back has slipped the wrong way.

Our minds? Well, mine needs an alignment pretty much every morning and often several times throughout the day. What better alignment for my thinking than to read Psalm 100. It’s only five verses, but packed into these words are all the reminders I need of who God is and why I need to be praising and thanking Him continually.

There’s no room in these words for any pity parties or But, God!s. The Message starts out the psalm with, “On your feet now—applaud God!” I love that. What if I just stop what I’m doing several times throughout the day and start clapping for God and hoopin’ and hollerin’ for who He is? I bet I’d get a lot less irritated at all my piddly pet peeves.

Of course we don’t worship Him blindly. Verse 3 says, “Know that the LORD Himself is God.” This is a knowledge born of experience and complete assurance of the truth. Matthew Henry said, “Knowledge is the mother of devotion and of all obedience.” You don’t easily trust someone you don’t know, right?

What do we know about God? In this psalm we know that He’s our Creator, which gives us design and purpose (no random evolution going on here!). He’s our Shepherd, which means our every need is being tended to with intimate care.

If that’s not enough reason for praise, verse 5 packs a wallop! The Lord is good and we can know we’ll be the beneficiaries of His lovingkindness and His faithfulness throughout eternity. Those are solid truths that don’t change with our trials and daily moods.

Since today marks the start of a new month, I’ve decided to put this psalm in my car and read it out loud every day this month. Not only should I have it memorized by the 31st, but I’m counting on my attitude misalignments becoming less and less severe.

Anyone care to join me?