“1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.” (Psalm 40: 1-3)
The song “40” was probably my first exposure to the psalms. I had no idea that I was singing scripture all those times I sang along with one of my favorite bands and yet I knew as I sang the song that some part of my spirit, my soul, felt better because of it. Years later, at the age of 40, this song still gives me hope and release.
The song “40” was probably my first exposure to the psalms. I had no idea that I was singing scripture all those times I sang along with one of my favorite bands and yet I knew as I sang the song that some part of my spirit, my soul, felt better because of it. Years later, at the age of 40, this song still gives me hope and release.
We all have moments in life when, like young children searching for words, we simply cry out to the Holy, where we lift up the word or the thought or even the emotion: "How long?" We release the cry of our heart and wait for God to meet our need. (And to quote a different musical artist, "The waiting is the hardest part...")
There is power in the act of "naming." In Exodus, Moses asks for the Name of God to which God replies, "I am who I am" or "I will be who I will be." To possess the name of a deity in the ancient world was to wield power over that one deity. The act of naming continues to be important when we name our troubles, when we name our “miry bogs” —whether it’s a bad habit, a troubling situation, financial difficulties, an illness or a frustration—name it, let it go, and then watch to see what God does. A big part of healing, forgiveness and reconciliation is letting go of whatever past we feel trapped in and moving into a future with God.
(A prayer form that works well for “letting go” of frustrations: hold your hands in a “palms down” and closed position. Imagine that whatever it is that holds you in place is in your hands, take a deep breath and then open your hands, letting out your breath. Say “God I give you…(whatever you have let go of). Now turn your hands palms up keeping them open (a position of receiving). Take antoher deep breath and say, “God I receive your…”(whatever you need in the moment, peace, comfort, security, forgiveness—usually something opposite of what you let go of.))
(A prayer form that works well for “letting go” of frustrations: hold your hands in a “palms down” and closed position. Imagine that whatever it is that holds you in place is in your hands, take a deep breath and then open your hands, letting out your breath. Say “God I give you…(whatever you have let go of). Now turn your hands palms up keeping them open (a position of receiving). Take antoher deep breath and say, “God I receive your…”(whatever you need in the moment, peace, comfort, security, forgiveness—usually something opposite of what you let go of.))
No comments:
Post a Comment