## 103:1
%% 5
> All That Is Within Me
>> Praise the LORD, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name!

Occasion: Wanting wholehearted worship

Lord, I do not want to bring You just part of myself.
Only the safe part.
Only the public part.
Only the part that knows easy words.
I want my whole house opened.

Yet even as I say this,
I feel myself holding back,
singing while staying guarded,
speaking praise without surrendering
the things I most want to keep for myself.

Show me the rooms I still keep shut ---
the old hurt,
the private pride,
the fear of losing control.
Show me where I have grown used to locked doors.
Give me courage to open them,
even when I do not know what wholeheartedness will ask of me.

Half-offered worship leaves the door locked.
It sounds full,
but something remains empty.
Let's not pretend that divided praise is enough.

Take all that is within me
and turn it toward You.
Mind.
Heart.
Soul.
Will.

Gather even the reluctant parts,
the weary parts,
the parts that have forgotten how to praise.
Teach my whole being to answer You.

Not part of myself, Lord.
But my whole house opened.

Amen.