Tag: Psalms

Morning Musing: Psalm 4:3

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“Know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

Trying to sleep with disquiet in your heart is no easy thing to do. In fact, it can be downright impossible. This becomes particularly true when the turmoil is the result of some offense we have been dealt. It’s easy to lie there and just stew about it, but it’s better—and it may actually ultimately lead to a good night’s sleep—to have a conversation with God about it. Yet, where do we start? Psalm 4 offers us a great model to follow. Read the rest…

Morning Musing: Psalm 4:2

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“How long, exalted ones, will my honor be insulted? How long will you love what is worthless and pursue a lie? Selah”  (CSB – Read the chapter)

If David’s first cry was up, his second cry is out. When someone else has hurt us or made us angry or dealt us some injustice, it’s okay for us to go ahead and acknowledge that. Refusing to do so both in our hearts and even out loud isn’t somehow holy or righteous. It’s deceitful and dishonest. If you’ve been hurt, claim it. It won’t get any better until you do. Read the rest…

Morning Musing: Psalm 4:1 Part 2

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“Answer me when I call, God, who vindicates me. You freed me from affliction; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.”  (CSB – Read the chapter) ‬‬

So then, where do we turn when we lie down to sleep with a heart that is full of turmoil? Over the course of the eight verses of this Psalm, David turns three places: Up, out, and in. The out and the in are important because, 1. we need to speak (at least metaphorically) to our sources of anxiety from a place of righteousness; and 2. our self-talk in times of emotional distress is really important. But, he begins and ends with up, because with God is where we will ultimately find the resources we need to resolve our tension and when He has provided them we do need to express our gratitude for it. Read the rest…

Morning Musing: Psalm 4:1

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“Answer me when I call, God, who vindicates me. You freed me from affliction; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.”  (CSB – Read the chapter)

Have you ever laid down for bed at night with a heart that was full, but what it was full of was not love and good feelings? How often has that anger and frustration over some unfairness or injustice or even simply inconvenience you’ve been dealt been directed at least partially at God? I suspect if you’ve lived very long this has happened a time or twenty. As the culture around us continues to shift away from anything recognizably Christian or even remotely God-honoring, if you’re someone who seeks to make following Jesus something that is a consistent feature of your life, I’m certain you have. What do we do in a time like this? Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Psalm 81:8

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“Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!  O Israel, if you would but listen to me!”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Do you listen to God?  I don’t know about you, but I can pretty easily find myself in a rut of talking to God a lot, but not stopping to listen very often.  I can get into a pattern of reading God’s word every day because I’m supposed to (especially as a pastor!), but not paying very close attention to what He might want to say to me through it.  Let’s just call it what it is: Listening to God is tough. Read the rest…