Psalm « Journeyman Journal

My Heart’s Desire

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Sometimes even I can’t miss what God is trying to tell me…sometimes. This morning God got my attention by using simple repetition. And I need to hear what He had to say. First, He sent me to a passage in the Psalms. I read it, but almost missed what He was trying to say. The I started reading out of book I’m using in my devotional time called O2 (I highly recommend it already…and I’m not even done). The author quotes the exact same passage God has led me to earlier in the morning. OK, I get it…and I needed it obviously. Here’s the passage:

Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
(Psalm 73:25-26, NLT)

It’s that second sentence that is sticking with me today. I need to be reminded that my identity and my heart’s desire is found in God alone (at least that’s how it should be). He’s enough. He’s what I need. Today. Tomorrow. Always.

Too often I try and find my identity in other things. And it gets me all messed up. I turn to other things instead of turning to God. It’s faithless. It’s human. It’s gotta go.

I need Him and Him alone. Once I have that priority right everything else will fall into its proper place. Always.

17.05.2010 Devotional, God's Love, Spiritual Musings 1 Comment

A New Song

Monday, February 15th, 2010

I don’t sing.

OK, maybe when I’m alone in the car and some rockin’ tune comes on. And on Sunday mornings. But that’s pretty much it. It’s just not my “gift”.

But yesterday God took me to these two passages…

Sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has done wonderful deeds.
Psalm 98:1, NLT

Sing a new song to the Lord!
Sing his praises from the ends of the earth!
Isaiah 42:10, NLT

What caught my attention in both of these verses is not that we’re commanded to sing to the Lord…but that we’re commanded to sing a new song. Not a song that we already know. A new song.

Hmm…

As I read it I started to wonder, “What’s the significance of the song being new?” I assumed there was something there or God wouldn’t have said it that way…twice (it actually occurs three more times in Psalms). Why a new song? What’s wrong with one that I already know (and that list is small…I can’t remember lyrics to save my own life).

So I started to pray and ask God to shed some light on this little nuance. If He caught my attention with it, then it must mean something (at least to me). And He came though (duh!). Here’s what I journaled…

I can’t just look to the past—what God has done in my life and other’s. I need to focus on what He’s doing right now. God’s story in my life now. I need to sing that new song—the ever evolving story God continues to tell in my life. I need to tell it. I need to sing this “new song”. It doesn’t belong to anyone else. It’s new. It’s the song God is writing in my life and I need to sing it!

For me, this “new song” is the story God is writing for me. He’s writing the song of my life and it’s always brand new. That may not be theologically accurate…but it speaks to my soul. It’s what I needed yesterday and today.

Now, I just need to start singing…

15.02.2010 Devotional, Spiritual Musings 1 Comment

What Are You Smiling About?

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

I read a great quote this morning from a man we all know…

Christians are the only people in the world who have anything to be happy about.
—Billy Graham

I can’t say as I’ve ever thought about it that way, but he makes an excellent point. And I for one have plenty to be happy and thankful for. God is good. And for some reason He wants a relationship with me…we’re on an adventure together.

So I echo Mr. Graham’s statement this morning…I have all the reason in the world to be happy. And I echo the Psalmist as well…

I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me.
Psalm 71:23, NLT

So if you see me smiling this week…it’s just because I’ve got plenty to be smiling about. Merry Christmas!

20.12.2009 Spiritual Musings 1 Comment

Listen and Wait

Monday, July 6th, 2009

This past weekend was our annual trek to Como, CO for three days of camping with family and friends in one of the most beautiful places on earth (more details and photos to come in another post). One of the reasons I love it there is the beauty of beauty of God’s creation. I somehow feel closer to God…or am at least more easily reminded of His glory and power.

One morning as I sat in a chair overlooking a serene pond, blue skies, and majestic mountains; God gave me this passage to meditate on:

Let all that I am wait quietly before God.
Psalm 62:5a, NLT

It’s a great message, but made more so by the passage He gave just before we left:

Listen in silence before me…
Isaiah 41:1a, NLT

I am pretty dense, but even I can’t miss the message here: Listen and Wait. But it’s more than just that…I am to be listening and waiting before God. I am still processing and praying about what this specifically means for my own spiritual walk with Him. I do recognize and admit that there is a lot of “noise” in my life and spirit right now. It’s hard to hear His voice with so much clutter in my spirit.

So I am asking Him to help me listen…and wait (I am still not sure what for…but that will become clear during the waiting) before Him. I need to slow down. I need to center my thoughts and action and life around Him.

I am listening. I am waiting. Before Him.

06.07.2009 Devotional, Spiritual Musings 1 Comment

A Little Encouragement Please

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

I’m still not exactly sure why, but yesterday was full of discouragement as a dark mood settled over me. As I pray and think about it I am sure it is because of the great weekend we had with the boys (more to come on that in another post, but I want to give it the attention it deserves). It really hit me after lunch…more specifically, after going to the gun range with two of my buddies.

But when it hit me, it hit me pretty hard. I started thinking about all the stuff I have to get done this week, this month, this year. I started thinking about finances. I started thinking about my garage. I started thinking about my uncertain future. I started thinking about homework. I started thinking about being there for my family. I started thinking about church responsibilities. I think you get the picture…it was overwhelming.

It is times like this when I usually would turn to something I shouldn’t (food recently, porn a few years ago). But God has been working on me to turn to Him. So I did. I put all of this on the table, confessed my discouragement and asked Him for a little encouragement. Did I get it? Yes and No. He isn’t letting me off quite that easy, but He does hear me and He does love me…and He is working on me ever so slowly.

So what did I hear from Him? Here’s what I got: “Be Still”. Not exactly word of encouragement, and not exactly new words of instruction for me. This is also an area He has been working on…my need to slow down, be still, and be with Him. Seems counter-intuitive to my mood this morning. Wasn’t what I was looking or hoping for. But then He reinforces the command with this…

Be still, and know that I am God!
(Psalm 46:10a)

Okay…even I get it. Be still, right? But that’s not my nature. He knows. So here I am, doing my best to be still and wait on God. He’s here. I’m waiting…

12.08.2008 God's Love, Misc Ramblings, Spiritual Development 1 Comment

I Will

Tuesday, April 8th, 2008

I will be careful to live a blameless life.
I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.
I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar.
I will search for faithful people to be my companions.
Psalm 101:2-3, 6 (NLT)

This list of “I wills” convicted me this morning…challenged me to think about how intentionally I am living my life (especially my spiritual life). I am challenged by King David laying out a set of principles that he established and committed to in his daily walk.

And the items on the list…how he set about living before God…is challenging as well. Look at it:

Live a blameless life: No pressure here!
Integrity in my home: Notice he says at home…where it’s easy to not have integrity.
Refuse to look at vile and vulgar: Especially tough for men (and this was over 2,000 years ago…not much has changed since then).
Faithful companions: Good reminder to surround ourselves with people who will inspire us instead of bringing us down.

For today at least, I am adopting this prayer of David. I am taking up the challenge of living my life with intentionality and with a higher purpose. These goals King David laid out are so high and lofty that that can only be accomplished with God’s help!

08.04.2008 Devotional, Spiritual Musings No Comments