Day 4 {25 Days of Thanksgiving}
Google Image
As a young Christian, I struggled through reading the Psalms. Honestly, in my immaturity I thought, "What's the big deal? All that complaining is depressing!"
And then, as I began to face life's sorrows and struggles, I was drawn to the Psalms with a magnetic pull. Now, I begin each day in the Psalms. They are life sustaining food for me.
Someone taught me to read five Psalms a day. Today, being November 4, I began with Psalm 4. Then I continue adding the number 30 to the day's first Psalm, until I have read a total of five. Today I read Psalm 4, 34, 64, 94, and 124. If there is a day 31 in the month, I focus on Psalm 119. That way I can read the entire book in a month's time. The connectivity of these particular Psalms is quite amazing.
Praying through the Psalms has been one of the richest blessings of my Christian walk. Each verse I read, I try to focus, and pray upward to God. I may praise Him for aspects of His wonderful nature and character. I appeal to Him concerning my own enemies and struggles. I pray for others, or for my nation. I rejoice at the references about Christ. Praise... confession... delight... appeal... cry out... plead... sing... joy... forgiveness... restoration... all of these words describe what can take place while praying through the Psalms.
Like the Psalmist, I may pour out my lament to the Lord, and then review His previous kindness to me, His unchangeable character... and then make the choice to trust Him. It is a choice... not based on feelings, but based on TRUTH... to trust God. And when I choose Him and obey, God quickens my spirit, and empowers me to do right.
"Thank you Lord, for leaving us your Living, Holy WORD. And today I thank you, in particular, for the book of Psalms."
