A walk through the Psalms...

I’ve been reading a few chapters from Psalms each morning as part of my Bible study time.  Here are a few of the verses I’ve loved over the past couple days.  His word is our daily bread, so eat, savor, and be satisfied.  Taste and see – He’s good! 

One thing God has spoken, two things I’ve heard: that you, O God, are strong and that you, O Lord, are loving.

(Psalm 62:11-12)

These are two of my favorite characteristics of our God.  He’s so strong and wise and powerful, yet gentle, intimate, and loving at the same time. 

Oh God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.  My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

(Psalm 63:1-5)

I read this particular verse on a day when I was struggling a bit to connect with God.  I resonated with the part about having seen Him and beheld His glory.  It’s true that the more we experience Him, the more we hunger and thirst for Him when we’re disconnected.  I know what I’m missing at this point, and I’m not satisfied to accept anything less.  He’s too good. 

Praise our God, oh peoples, let the sound of His praise be heard; He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping.  For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver…we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. (Psalm 66:8-12)

This one touched me deeply.  It caused me to reflect on different periods in my life and the times that my feet have slipped (seemingly beyond repair at times).  But He’s so faithfully preserved me, in all my wretchedness, and kept my feet from slipping too far.  Though painful, I’m thankful for His testing and refining, because it’s made me more like Him.  And it’s made me respect Him.  And it’s made me trust Him.  I’ve indeed been through some fire and water with God (most of it self-inflicted).  But I love that He hasn’t just kept me from slipping (that alone is more than I deserve and would surely be enough).  But He loves me so much that He’s brought me from the lowest lows to a place of abundance.  It's good to be a daughter of the King!

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. (Psalm 68:19)

This one made me pause and consider the implications of Him daily bearing my burdens.  If I count the number of burdens I carry daily (sin, fears, anxiety, hurt…), it can be a heavy load.  And yet every single day (and often multiple times a day), He picks them up and bears them for me.  The perfect gentleman and loving protector!

For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence from my youth.  From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. (Psalm 71:5-6)

My testimony began as a young child and has often looked like that of the Israelites (grace, thanksgiving, disobedience, punishment…grace, thanksgiving, disobedience, punishment…).  But I can say with confidence that He’s been my only hope and constant companion since my youth.  We’ve gone through a lot together, and I’ve grown to rely on Him.  I pray that this never ceases!

When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.  Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.  Whom have I in heaven but you?  And earth has nothing I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.  But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. (Psalm 73:21-28)

This was another very timely passage for me.  I was being disobedient and rebellious when God brought me to this verse.  Before I started my Bible study time that particular day, I’d told God that I wanted to obey but needed His strength to do it.  I moved forward in faith, trusting that He'd give it to me.  I loved that this was in my reading for the day.  What a confirmation of His love and personal involvement in our lives.  It’s so true that we act like wild, ignorant beasts when we’re entangled in sin.  But He never leaves us.  He always has us by the hand.  I don't always act like it, but there's truly nothing that this world can offer me that's worth more than my relationship with Him.  He counsels the believer’s heart and moves us to repentance and full restoration.  My flesh and heart seem to be programmed for repeated failure, but God provides the strength we need for daily victory.  It seems like such an understatement, but it’s indeed good for me to be near God.  I see more clearly, love more fully, and walk more faithfully when I am. 

A few weeks ago, we sang this song at church.  I love the words, and I'm able to live this way when I'm near Him.

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord
And where there's doubt, true faith in you.

Chorus:
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace
Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there's sadness, ever joy.

Chorus

Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we're born to eternal life.