One of the rich practices that I’ve come to appreciate is the ancient tradition of praying the psalms. Communities of faith have been doing this together for centuries. Sometimes, I will simply journal my personal response to a particular psalm. Psalm 63 has been a recent place of encountering God’s grace for me:
“O God, You are my God, I’m seeking You for all I’m worth. On the inside I’m parched for Your presence. On the outside, all I want is You! I live in a desert place where I find no other refreshment or satisfaction.
I remember seeing You in times of worship. I’ve witnessed You doing mighty and glorious things.
I will speak in Your honor because there is nothing better than Your love…not even life itself.
I’ll never stop praising You, as long as I do live, and I will lift my hands to acknowledge Your character. I want people to know Who You are and what You are like.
I know that my innermost being will be filled by You as full as if I had sat down to an extravagant gourmet meal. I’ll smack my lips with Your praise.
When I lie awake at night on my bed I remember You. I’m always thinking of You from sunset to sunrise.
Knowing that You are my Helper, I relax and sing in the protection of Your embrace.
Like a little child, I’m clinging to You. I love how You hold me up and carry me like a daddy does his little boy. Everything inside me says, “Yes!”
There are those who want to see me destroyed. May they suffer for their hardened hearts and find themselves destroyed.
May You obliterate my enemies so that there is hardly enough left for a dog to eat. That’s just how I feel sometimes!
As for me, I find my joy in You, God. You’re the only One I can count on these days…and I’m sticking with You. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar and should stop speaking.
O God. Mighty God. Glorious God. Loving God. Father God. Faithful God. There is nothing like being able to say, “O God…You are my God!” And so earnestly I seek You, O God…my God!”
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