Ring the bell. That's what I titled today's encouragement from the Our Daily Red Devotional. I'm Kirsten Holmberg.

After an astounding 30 rounds of radiation treatments, Darla was finally pronounced cancer-free.

As part of hospital tradition, she was eager to ring the cancer-free bell that marked the

end of her treatment and celebrated her clean bill of health. Darla was so enthusiastic and

vigorous in her celebratory ringing that the

rope actually detached from the bell. Peels of joyous laughter ensued. Darla's story

brings a smile to my face and gives me a sense of what the psalmist might have envisioned when he

invited the Israelites to celebrate

God's work in their lives. The writer of Psalm 47 encouraged them to clap their hands,

shout to God, and sing praises, because God had routed their enemies and chosen the Israelites as his

beloved people. God doesn't always grant us victory

over our struggles in this life, whether health-related or financial or relational. He's worthy

of our worship and praise even in those circumstances, because we can trust that he's still seated on his holy throne.

When he does bring us to a place of healing, at least in a way that we recognize in this earthly life,

it's cause for great celebration. We may not have the physical bell to ring, but we can joyfully celebrate his goodness to us with the same kind of exuberance Darla showed.

Today's scripture reading is Psalm 47.

Clap your hands, all you nations, shout to God with cries of joy.

For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great king over all the earth.

He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.

He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of

Jacob whom he loved. God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.

Sing praises to God. Sing praises! Sing praises! Sing praises! For king, sing praises.

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