Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

Read

Psalm 36:5-10 (NRSV)

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your judgments are like the great deep;
you save humans and animals alike, O LORD.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.

O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
and your salvation to the upright of heart!

Reflect

What a beautiful song of praise, extolling the faithfulness of God! The voice of Third Day’s Mac Powell rings through my head as I read this and remember their song “Your Love, Oh Lord,” which is based on this psalm. These words flow so easily on beautiful days, joyous occasions, and those times when everything is going so well that you know it is only because God is so good. But if we look at the whole psalm, we understand that these words weren’t written on such a day. Instead, like much good art, this poetry arose in the face of adversity.

If our eyes, ears, and hearts are open, we need not look far to see the pain in the world. Whether it’s our own depression, grief, hardship, or anger or the injustices running rampant in our communities and throughout the world, a quick glance will flood us with a reality of deep brokenness. As a people reconciled to a God of love, peace, and justice, this brokenness is our enemy. The writer of Psalm 36 faced a wicked enemy, and in the face of that enemy chose to sing. Because of God’s faithfulness, we can choose to do the same.

Pray

God you are faithful and steadfast. You are my refuge. Strengthen me to sing your song in the face of all that weighs on my heart. May your light guide me through the darkness and empower me to keep walking. Amen.

Go with God.