Thou dost cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread to strengthen man's heart.
Oh yes, God brings grain from the land, wine to make people happy, their faces glowing with health, a people well-fed and hearty.
This is a "Hymn to God the creator." God provides creation with everything it needs and then goes beyond that to provide the means of gladdening and strengthening our hearts. My heart needs gladdening and strengthening. There is one means God uses that I have trouble appreciating: time. I want my heart gladdened and strengthened like it's a product and not a process. I want my heart glad and strong for good. There are verses about time in this psalm: the day, the night, and the seasons. Time is God's creation and it is a means to gladden and strengthen my heart.
Lord, let me appreciate the time you provide for me to heal from depression. Let me pay attention to the ways you gladden and strengthen my heart. Amen.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Psalm 103:6
The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet.
There are a lot of fitting verses in this psalm. Bless the Lord who forgives sins, heals diseases, redeems you from hell, and many more. I chose this one because in Psalm 102 I was brought to my knees, so it seems important to know that I will be put back on my feet. See, I told you a few psalms and a few years ago that I was over the depression and here it is back again. The lessons I learned have to be learned again, and again, and again. I'm not starting from scratch, though. I now see the signs earlier and take care of myself a little better and, so far, avoid the major depression I experienced before. I will find myself back on my feet.
Lord, you bring us to our knees to teach us the lessons we need to learn. Please use these lessons to bring me back on my feet, living the full life you intend for me. Amen.
God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet.
There are a lot of fitting verses in this psalm. Bless the Lord who forgives sins, heals diseases, redeems you from hell, and many more. I chose this one because in Psalm 102 I was brought to my knees, so it seems important to know that I will be put back on my feet. See, I told you a few psalms and a few years ago that I was over the depression and here it is back again. The lessons I learned have to be learned again, and again, and again. I'm not starting from scratch, though. I now see the signs earlier and take care of myself a little better and, so far, avoid the major depression I experienced before. I will find myself back on my feet.
Lord, you bring us to our knees to teach us the lessons we need to learn. Please use these lessons to bring me back on my feet, living the full life you intend for me. Amen.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Psalm 102:23
He has broken my strength in mid-course; he has shortened my days.
God sovereignly brought me to my knees, he cut me down in my prime.
When is it time to keep fighting, and when is it time to give up? This verse makes me think of the adage, "When God closes a door, he opens a window." Good old Merriam-Webster says a sovereign is "one that exercises supreme authority..." The problem is, some of us are not so good at discerning where God's supreme authority is leading us. I am not so good at discernment period. In other words, there's not a window in sight! The God I trust does not bring me to my knees just to exercise his supreme authority. I don't know where that window is, or where it leads, but maybe I'll see it when I stop banging on the door.
Lord, my strength is broken. You have brought me to my knees. Let me trust in your love for me and discern your path for me. Amen.
God sovereignly brought me to my knees, he cut me down in my prime.
When is it time to keep fighting, and when is it time to give up? This verse makes me think of the adage, "When God closes a door, he opens a window." Good old Merriam-Webster says a sovereign is "one that exercises supreme authority..." The problem is, some of us are not so good at discerning where God's supreme authority is leading us. I am not so good at discernment period. In other words, there's not a window in sight! The God I trust does not bring me to my knees just to exercise his supreme authority. I don't know where that window is, or where it leads, but maybe I'll see it when I stop banging on the door.
Lord, my strength is broken. You have brought me to my knees. Let me trust in your love for me and discern your path for me. Amen.
Monday, September 21, 2015
Psalm 101:2
I will give heed to the way that is blameless. Oh when wilt thou come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;
I'm finding my way down the road of right living; but how long before you show up? I'm doing the very best I can, and I'm doing it at home, where it counts.
This is a psalm about justice, and justice begins at home. It is difficult to balance treating depression with family, friends, and work. Here I am, an introvert with depression. I need to be alone to recharge. I've hit a point in my life where my energy is limited and I'm no longer able to keep plugging along without risking a relapse. So where should my energy go? Work? Relationships? This verse says home is where it counts, a definite vote for relationships. Yet I'm in a profession that requires a lot of energy, and home is more forgiving than work. Nevertheless, this verse says the scale should tip in favor of relationships.
Lord, a balanced life is so difficult to achieve. Bless my attempts at discerning your word and your will for me. Let me always remember to do the very best I can at home, where it counts. Amen.
I'm finding my way down the road of right living; but how long before you show up? I'm doing the very best I can, and I'm doing it at home, where it counts.
This is a psalm about justice, and justice begins at home. It is difficult to balance treating depression with family, friends, and work. Here I am, an introvert with depression. I need to be alone to recharge. I've hit a point in my life where my energy is limited and I'm no longer able to keep plugging along without risking a relapse. So where should my energy go? Work? Relationships? This verse says home is where it counts, a definite vote for relationships. Yet I'm in a profession that requires a lot of energy, and home is more forgiving than work. Nevertheless, this verse says the scale should tip in favor of relationships.
Lord, a balanced life is so difficult to achieve. Bless my attempts at discerning your word and your will for me. Let me always remember to do the very best I can at home, where it counts. Amen.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Psalm 100:5
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures for ever and his faithfulness to all generations.
For God is sheer beauty, all-generous love, loyal always and ever.
It is comforting in depression to remind myself that my depressed state is not all there is to me. I have not always felt like this and I will not always feel like this. But God is not like me. This verse reminds me that God is the same always. I began these psalms because I wanted to see if my faith would withstand the hopelessness of depression. It has. My trust in God has not always been good, steadfast, and faithful, but it has survived. In depression I desperately assumed this verse to be true; in health I joyfully avow this verse to be true. The grace and mercy from my good, steadfast, and faithful God have preserved my soul through depression. It is right to pray this psalm of thanksgiving.
Lord, you are good, steadfast, and faithful. Teach me to cling to you always, that my trust in you may be good, steadfast, and faithful. Thank-you for the ability to joyfully pray psalms of thanksgiving. Amen.
For God is sheer beauty, all-generous love, loyal always and ever.
It is comforting in depression to remind myself that my depressed state is not all there is to me. I have not always felt like this and I will not always feel like this. But God is not like me. This verse reminds me that God is the same always. I began these psalms because I wanted to see if my faith would withstand the hopelessness of depression. It has. My trust in God has not always been good, steadfast, and faithful, but it has survived. In depression I desperately assumed this verse to be true; in health I joyfully avow this verse to be true. The grace and mercy from my good, steadfast, and faithful God have preserved my soul through depression. It is right to pray this psalm of thanksgiving.
Lord, you are good, steadfast, and faithful. Teach me to cling to you always, that my trust in you may be good, steadfast, and faithful. Thank-you for the ability to joyfully pray psalms of thanksgiving. Amen.
Psalm 99:8
O Lord our God, you did answer them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
And then God, our God, answered them (But you were never soft on their sins).
God has answered my prayers: I am out of depression and fully participating in life again. The fog has lifted. Like a child who keeps examining a skinned knee, I keep revisiting the paths that took me into and out of depression. This psalm reminds us that God does not protect us from consequences, but he does guide us through them. My sin was seeking glory from my activities. I fight that sin now by seeking glory for God from my activities. I’ve narrowed my life down considerably. I protect my time to rest so that my work can more fully glorify God.
Lord, you answered my prayer. Let my healing glorify you. Let all that I do glorify you. Amen.
And then God, our God, answered them (But you were never soft on their sins).
God has answered my prayers: I am out of depression and fully participating in life again. The fog has lifted. Like a child who keeps examining a skinned knee, I keep revisiting the paths that took me into and out of depression. This psalm reminds us that God does not protect us from consequences, but he does guide us through them. My sin was seeking glory from my activities. I fight that sin now by seeking glory for God from my activities. I’ve narrowed my life down considerably. I protect my time to rest so that my work can more fully glorify God.
Lord, you answered my prayer. Let my healing glorify you. Let all that I do glorify you. Amen.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Psalm 98:1
O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!
Sing to God a brand-new song. He’s made a world of wonders!
When I first started these devotions I thought I would be unable to write a devotion on a praise psalm. I knew the psalms would express my depression in words. But even these psalms of despair convinced me that my depression was clinical, an illness. I would say, “I have a good life. Why do I feel this way?” In terms of treatment, answering the why is important because depression can be an illness or it can be a response to a difficult life situation. In terms of justifying depression, this question is a dead end. The praise psalms help me throw out the why question. They remind me that God is God. Period.
Lord, I am, in sickness or health, only a human being. Let me be comforted by reading the psalms that praise you. Let them remind me that you are God. Amen.
Sing to God a brand-new song. He’s made a world of wonders!
When I first started these devotions I thought I would be unable to write a devotion on a praise psalm. I knew the psalms would express my depression in words. But even these psalms of despair convinced me that my depression was clinical, an illness. I would say, “I have a good life. Why do I feel this way?” In terms of treatment, answering the why is important because depression can be an illness or it can be a response to a difficult life situation. In terms of justifying depression, this question is a dead end. The praise psalms help me throw out the why question. They remind me that God is God. Period.
Lord, I am, in sickness or health, only a human being. Let me be comforted by reading the psalms that praise you. Let them remind me that you are God. Amen.
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