The older I get the more I love the Psalms.  Most people do not go to the Book of Psalms to be taught, but it is one of the greatest teaching books in the Bible.  This is why; whereas most of the Bible instructs your mind in how you think about God and yourself, the book of Psalms teaches your heart.  It teaches you how to feel, how to lament circumstances, how to mourn sin, but most importantly, how amidst all things to have love, joy, and trust in the LORD.
In 2 Timothy 1:6 as Paul is readying himself to be matyred, his opening exhortation to his disciple and partner in ministry Timothy is to fan into flame the gift of faith.  Our passion for the Lord is a heart matter.  1 Corinthians 13:1-3 says it this way – “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”  Finally Proverbs 4:20-23 tells us “My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.  Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.  For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.  Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

So today, I want to share some of the Psalms that I have kept within my own heart that have been a great help to me.

When I have felt far from the Lord because I have allowed something else in the world to become more important than God, or when I feel like my world has fallen apart and just need a reminder that God is always with me, and will finish the work He began in me, I’ll go to Psalm 73:21-26 – “When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.  Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.  Whom have I in heaven but you?  And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

When I need to be reminded that true joy is only found in Jesus, that He is my portion, I’ll go to Psalm 16:5-11 – “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.  The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.  I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.  Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.  For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.  You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  In the presence of God, there is a fullness of joy.  Yes, and Amen.  I could preach that to my soul all day – a fullness of joy is found in Christ alone.  If you want to be happy, pursue Jesus.  It’s good to have a job, it’s good to have a spouse, it’s good to serve, but do all those things intentionally pursuing Jesus through them.  Work hard at your job for the Lord not for your boss.  Love your spouse sacrificially, to model Christ to them and encourage their growth in the LORD.  Serve others, as Jesus served, to know more of your Savior and the love He has for the lost and needy.  Sorry, that all just came out… back to the Psalms 🙂

When sorrow overwhelms me, when it feels like the darkness will not lift, and the temptation of depression would have me immobalized, I run to Psalm 42:1-5 –  “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When shall I come and appear before God?  My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:  how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”  There have been many days I have felt this way – where I asked my own soul as the Psalmist did – “why are you cast down”?  Hope in God.  God, willingly gave Himself up for us by dying on a cross – His love is immeasurable for us who hope in Him. 

When I am caught in sin and broken before God, I go to Psalm 51:1-12 and pray along with the Psalmist – “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.  Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.  Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

On this side of the cross, I know that that prayer has been met fully in Jesus.  My sin became His sin.  His righteousness became my righteousness.  I still need a right spirit to be renewed within me as much as the Psalmist.  I still long for the joy of the salvation of God, and to be upheld in my faith by a willing spirit.  That is the grace and mercy of God to have that, and it is right to pray and ask for it. 

I could go on, there are many other passages from the Psalms that encourage me to know that God is not distant from our emotions and struggles, but is there with us.  Reading the Psalms is a good start – it is encouraging and refreshing to our souls, but my exhortation would be to hide these passages in your heart.  You may not always have a Bible with you, but if you have memorized these passages, it will be a great help to you during times of trouble, and in everday life to have your heart tuned to the love of God for us in Christ Jesus. 

Grace and Peace,

Adam