You are my King and my God; you command victories for Jacob. Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down our assailants. For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. But you have saved us from our foes, and have put to confusion those who hate us. In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name for ever. Yet you have rejected us and abased us, and have not gone out with our armies. You made us turn back from the foe, and our enemies have taken spoil for themselves. You have made us like sheep for slaughter, and have scattered us among the nations. You have sold your people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them. (Psalm 44: 4-12)

The psalmist is prepared to offer all praise and all blame.

Too often we fail to praise God. We are prepared to take full credit for any success.

But we may also be too quick to blame. In all that we undertake God works as a good partner, not a puppet master.

In our relationship with God we may be blessed with creativity, insight, and courage. But finally we must do our part. We must choose what we will do and how we will do it.

Humility, self-criticism, listening and learning are especially needed of those who have been blessed.