We’re continuing with question 6 from the last post, which is to pray through Psalm 30, but I’d like to give you some guidelines.
There really is power in praying the psalms, in praising, even when we don’t feel like it. Eugene Peterson says this kind of prayer interrupts our preoccupation with ourselves. We are not alone in our prayers — First, as Renee so beautifully quoted from Narnia, Aslan can help us if we don’t ask, but “he sort of likes to be asked.” Begin by asking Him to help you slow down, meditate, and really see Psalm 30. Ask Him to kiss you. If a verse pops out, realize His Spirit is answering, and SLOW DOWN. Truly, I believe we are going to see some joy coming, hear about kisses received, about mourning turned into dancing. I’m praying for you to really do this, and for His Spirit to come and quicken you. I have a sense of expectancy.
Next, T. M. Moore has some helpful books on praying the psalms and he divides Psalm 30 into three parts — so let’s take it in these three parts and hear your reflections. It’s helpful if you mark them A, B, and C
A. Psalm 30:1-3 PRAISE GOD FOR HIS HEALING GRACE
When has God lifted you ouf of the depths? Healed you? Brought you up from the grave? Spared you from going down to the pit. Write your contemplations and praises.
B. Psalm 30:4-10 PRAISE THE LORD THAT HIS CHASTENING LEADS TO RENEWAL
When have you felt His chastening and responded so that renewal came? What promises give you hope here? What warning do you need to heed? What perspective do we have, on this side of the cross, that David did not?
C. Psalm 30:10-12 GIVE PRAISE AND THANKS TO GOD FOR HIS RENEWING GRACE
Word pictures are meant to be savored. Read as a lover reads. What do you see?
35 comments
Dear Sisters,
The last three days I have been dismayed wondering why I have not been able to feel quickened by Ps 30. No matter what I did I couldn’t get anything out of that Psalm! This morning I watched a lady on t.v. speak and she said something that pierced my heart. She was saved at the age of nine and begged God to save her from her father’s sexual abuse. God allowed the abuse to go on for years and she later had to overcome offense towards God. God spoke to my heart that I am offended at God in two areas of my life that I wasn’t even aware of. I had a wonderful time with God and he helped me overcome the offenses. This morning I feel like I had a great awakening. I not only feel like I had a kiss but had an embrace from heaven. When I opened up the study and saw the heading “Rejoicing comes in the morning” I felt even more joyful, I then re-read Ps. 30 and felt quickened by Vs.2: I cried out and you healed me. I now know that I cried for God’s help the past three days, He heard me and answered my cry by showing me the offense and then healed me when I prayed for forgiveness.
I guess the lesson for me is this, when I can’t receive from God I need to see if there is something between God and me, keeping me from Him. PTL He is the faithful one!
Wonderful, Kim!
As I think about the lament of my heart it seems so lame when I see it written down. I have the idea that because I love God and do certain things and don’t do certain things, He is obliged to give me this thing that I want, and I realize that I have been somewhat angry about it. Angry at God-my brain knows better than this. Expecting God to give me anything but the death that I deserve-my brain also knows better than this. I talk to Him about what I have done and it is not all that special as if I can do anything that will bring another to Him. I really have not changed that much since I was in middle school.
I am so glad I wrote that lament because it helped me to see inside my heart. I am impatient and oh so selfish. Lord please help me to bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. I have to say that this prayer scares me. Then I have to say Lord please help me not to fear.
I am still praying Psalm 30. There is so much there. I think right now I will rejoice in v2&3. Lord my God, I cried to You for help and You healed me. Lord You brought me up from Sheol; You spared me from among those going down to the pit.
Kim and Anne, I appreciate your postings; you’ve both given me a broader perspective.
Psalm 30 just started sinking in today — when I backed up and read Psalm 29 first. But I’m not ready to post yet! I’ll need another day or two on this, but I feel blessed because I can see hints that I’m starting to “get it.”
I find that participation on this blog decreases when we actually get into praying a psalm — I think you feel overwhelmed, fearful. I understand. How about if you just take one piece of this psalm and try to pray it, making it your own.
LET’S TAKE BABY STEPS
and then encourage one another — the way we would that toddler just learning to walk!
HERE IS MY BABY STEP THIS MORNING — FIRST THE PHRASE IN CAPITALS, THEN I MAKE IT MY OWN
I WILL EXALT YOU, O LORD,
FOR YOU LIFTED ME OUT OF THE DEPTHS
AND DID NOT LET MY ENEMIES GLOAT OVER ME.
I praise You, dear Lord
I was drowning in grief over Steve’s death, and Satan was gloating
I was despairing that You did not love me, for I
know I do not deserve Your love.
But You reminded me of how You went to the cross for me
that You do love me and You love Steve
and that lifted me out of the depths
and it was Satan who went spiraling down.
Wow I just read the last several days to catch up….I just couldn’t come back…I have been busy trying to write to my daughter and finding the right scripture and words to say. It’s difficult to find words to say that won’t hurt her but that encourage her.??? I don’t know.. I just know that today in reading Ps 30:1-3 A I was reminded of the many times God has lifted me out of the depths..how He healed me and brought me out of the pit. I couldn’t go to Narnia it was too painful, you see my daughter is Lucy and named after my mama, Lucy. It may sound stupid but that’s my failing, this week was about me again and where I can get help in relating to her when she is ready…I hope and pray it is not years, months, or weeks, but days or even just hours. This reminder in Ps of how God has been there in the past and is with me now gives me strength. Thank you to so many of you and your scriptures…I am printing them out to view when I fail to trust God to do His job….I need that flashing neon sign that pops out to remind me whenever I become selfish and worrying. I will say as I read the posts after I wrote earlier this week that it was very comforting and I felt like y’all were just right here beside me.
Psalm 30:1-12 (NIV)
1 I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
Lord, I will give You praise…I feel a little wobbly today…like on the edge of a pit…a pit of worry, fear, full of what ifs. I have a choice to sink into that ugly depth or to believe You when You tell me, ‘be anxious for nothing, but to bring my requests to You’…The Most High, with thanksgiving and in exchange, You will give me Your peace. You also have said, ‘He whose mind is stayed on Thee will have peace’…Lord, Stay my mind on You! I sure don’t the enemy of my soul to gloat. As I journal it out, it seems so obvious…trust my Most High or give the enemy fuel for gloating.
I do praise You, that You have been singing hymns in my heart today…I think You are ‘staying’ my mind…thank You…thank You.
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
… Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
Yes Lord, tune my heart to sing Thy grace…take my heart, bind it to Thee and seal it for You and You alone…Amen and Amen.
I love how God is “singing songs over you” and bringing music to your remembrance to quiet your soul. May that be true of each hurting person on this blog.
Yes! thats exactly what He has been doing with me the last few days…I love how lyn says”singing songs over me”, bringing music to my heart and quieting my soul! Especially:
Turn your eyes unto Jesus,
look full into His face
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the Light of His Glory and Grace.
I listened to several versions of the song on YouTube..He is definately calling and wooing me to HIM and my heart is singing!
Oh Lord, Thank you.
I will honor You.
I was overwhelmed, frightened,
drowning in quicksand.
I couldn’t see beyond my mess, my small world.
But You had already won the victory.
“Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (I John 4:4)
You won!
You are doing great. We are continually getting new women on this blog who are in deep grief — many are simply reading, but others are beginning to participate. Keep up your good sharing.
Another verse that may bring hope to those in fresh pain is Psalm 30:5. Would love to have a few of you try praying that, making it your own — be specific about what kind of joy will come in the morning…
Praying for you!
B As I read through these verses I am reminded of how God allowed me to go to my pit before I could hear how selfish I was. It’s not about me and what I am going through with Lucy….it’s about God and how He loves her sooo much and wants complete healing for her…as do I. So in my crying I am reminded that God loves even more than us…and I can rejoice in knowing this and proclaim His faithfulness.
As I sat and quieted my soul this morning listening to all Amy’s songs that we have studied so far, a word spoke to me in the third verse:
“Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When DISAPPOINTMENT, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tear are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.”
The word “disappointment” kept shouting at me. But it shouted as
“dis-appointment.” What does that mean? According to Webster “dis” is a prefix meaning do the opposite of or deprive of. “Appointment” means among other things, a meeting or engagement. Disappointment: deprived of engagement. The weeping of many dark nights turned to joy this morning as I realized that though I’ve worked my way through the grief, fear and sorrow of all the stuff with my son, what I am left with is a deep disappointment – a deep loss from being deprived of the joy of having a child who has engaged with the lifestyle we chose to raise him in. But that is self-serving and keeps me a step above the truth. The truth is this:
A.
I give you all the credit, God, for knowing what lies ahead,
for knowing what I need to keep me from drowning in a pit of self-pity and sanctimony. Sometimes Satan uses scripture to make me feel better than my son. Lord, you know my addictions. Are sugar, caffeine, and fat any better for me than drugs are for my son? God, you know that I rob from the poor when I spend $3.50 for a cup of coffee and walk past the Donations for Haiti barrel without a glance. I give you all the credit, Lord, for leading me back to study, for leading me back to self-examination and confession. I give you all the credit for getting me out of my mess.
God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together with this group of women. I yelled for help because I felt disconnected – disappointed – with You. You have pulled me out of darkness, out of that place where I try to be my own god. You have again opened my eyes to your presence, to your saving grace.
B.
I am singing again, Lord. I am singing your hymns, I am praising your name. Thank you, God, for saving me from myself. How You must tire of my wavering! How I must disappoint You! Yet You are Love. Through it all, the highs and the lows, You are Love. Accepting that, truly knowing Love, letting Love enfold me, hold me, caress my weary woes turns my weeping into joy! Joy has come this morning! Thank you for being merciful. Thank you for being kind. Thank you for being a Gentleman.
C.
You have turned my whining and moaning death march into a joyful dance of life. You have stripped me of my mourning clothes, those wintery rags of pity and doubt I wore to the jail these last weeks. Instead you have clothed me with spring – the yellows and pinks and greens of renewed life! You have put a spring in my step. You have turned my sorrow into joy! May my heart sing to You and not be silent. May I keep my appointment with You, each day, each hour, each breath! Thank you, Thank You!
Great insight on “dis-appointment.” Thanks!
Rejoicing with you!!! Thank You, Dear Lord, thank You…
Janet, that was one of the most beautiful things I have ever read.
And what insight, on the word disappointment, “deprived of engagement”.
Much, much food for thought.
Here are some cross-references that helped me with praying Psalm 30:5. (P.S. Question at the end: Help, please!)
1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1 Peter 1:6
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
Isaiah 54:7
For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you.
Even after thinking about the cross-references, I have questions. Then I realized that I don’t have to understand (nor is it possible for me to understand everything) before I pray!!! Here’s my prayer from Psalm 30:5 and the other passages above.
O God, Purify me; I’ve sinned against you. Even when the night of weeping lasts for years, you haven’t abandoned me. You will “restore, confirm, strengthen and establish” me. You ARE restoring, confirming, strengthening, and establishing me daily. And as long as I am in this life, I will need restoring, confirming, strengthening and establishing. O Lord, forgive me for boxing you in to my perspectives of night and morning, of weeping and joy. Yes, life often looks better in the morning, during daylight, at the beginning of a new day. But You desire so much more for me than my small view of “joy in the morning.” Without you, morning is scary, too — and after a night of weeping, I’m tired. True JOY, O Lord (the blessings of knowing your compassion, your faithfulness, your forgiveness, the growing calm in my heart, learning to rest in You and trust that you are GOOD, seeing your work in and through my life) is in and from You alone. Thank you for those trials that are necessary for me to know you better. Thank you for glimpses of the “real” morning to come.
I was reminded that we live in a temporary world, and then remembered excerpts from the Lewis quotes I posted earlier:
“‘This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.’”
“‘There was a real railway accident,’ said Aslan softly. ‘Your father and mother and all of you are – as you used to call it in the Shadowlands – dead. The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is over: this is the morning.’”
But I still have a question. I don’t understand what is meant by God’s anger (Psalm 30:5) or His desertion (Is 54:7). The thoughts of God deserting me or His anger toward me are not pleasant. Yet the NT passages above speak of suffering and necessary trials (which aren’t as frightening, don’t seem as catastrophic as God’s anger/desertion). I know that Jesus bore the penalty for my sin and experienced God’s wrath in my place, and that may explain the differences between the OT and NT passages (although I haven’t done a complete search). So, my question is: Does God’s anger/desertion refer to “before Christ?” or Are we recipients of it? or Do we just feel as if we are recipients of it when we are undergoing trials, even though he hasn’t deserted us???
Well, I guess if I would have read Dee’s initial questions for part B more carefully, I would have had the answer to my question 🙂
Renee — I love you parallels with Narnia.
I do think this psalm speaks of Jesus, but also the psalmist’s perception before the cross. There are times we feel deserted, but are not, and that is important to remember!
My prayer of Psalms 30:5 ~Dear God, I praise you that you are only angry for a moment. You aren’t like me and have to work through your anger. I’m so thankful that you love me enough to correct me when I need it. You draw me to yourself. When dad died last year I never felt alone. You were my constant companion. You cried when I cried and held me until the joy of morning finally returned. I love your powerful word that is at my disposal any time I need strength, it never returns void and your favor rests on me even though I don’t deserve it. Bless and hold close my sister’s who are grieving and continue to teach us how to comfort ourselves and others through the Psalms.
C. vs. 10-12. I was so focused on the joy and dancing that I almost missed the verbs: “you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.”
Both “removing” and “clothed” could involve intimate involvement with undressing & dressing (definitely more intimate than receiving a package of clothing in the mail). This implies that the relationship, as well as the new clothing, is a source of joy. Further, both sackcloth and dancing involve public expressions. My joy from an intimate relationship with my Lord should be evident to others.
I think this involves so much more than my feeble attempts at “being a good witness.” What others see should spring forth from my identity in Christ, my relationship with Him, what He is doing for me, and His gifts.
Oh Renee,
your comment is helping me to put this all together, the message of this Psalm. Yes, the “relationship” is the SOURCE of joy.
I found a beautiful song today with beautiful lyrics and it is so fitting for this study. If you would care to listen go to utube and type David Phelps/O love that would not let me go. This song blessed my socks off this morning! Thank you for the hymns that draw my soul to you, Father.
Right after Christmas I picked up a book I had gotten from church on prayer. It was the right time in my life for it and I got quite excited about it. I began some serious changes my prayer life. When I heard about this study, I thought I could do it too. I now realize that was a mistake. God has not called me to this study at this time. Today I picked that book back up and God showed me it is what I need to be doing now and that I can’t do both. I am not grieving right now but I do need to dig deep into some serious prayer for my sons and whoever else God shows me.
I have so loved fellowship with all of you and there are things that have been shared here that I will always remember. Dee, your work is precious, straight from the heart of our Lord. I will have your book in my bookcase and at the right time, it will be there. Thank you so much for allowing us to be helped by your suffering. Just like Jesus.
I love all of you.
Anne
Thanks for all your contributions, Anne. I’ll miss you!
I’ll miss you too, Anne — but so glad you are listening to the Lord. You are always welcome. Your sharing is so good!
Anne…could you send me a quick email…whall@wideopenwest.com
I too will miss you. Lynn
Anne,
I too will miss your comments. God bless you! ~Kim
God’s blessings to you as He leads you in a new path; will miss your wisdom and insights.
A. Lord I praise Your Holy Name
For You kept familial sins from leading me to the pit of death.
Because I am Your adopted, blood-bought, called, cherished,
chosen daughter You heard the cries of my soul and healed me.
My soul will never be separated from You.
Death no longer has its grip on me.
B. Lord You chastened me for my good.
Like a wild horse who needs to learn to submit to bit and
bridle, I needed to learn to submit to Your Sovereignity and
heed Your commands.
As the rivers of tears flowed I still praised Your Name.
Now I am filled with joy unspeakable.
I’m still pondering vv. 11 and 12.
My prayer for us this morning was: “As we all ponder Your truth give us eyes to see and ears to hear.”
I’ve beeen singing v.1 of Be Still My Soul on a daily basis. It usually comes to mind after dealing with the same difficult circusmstance I have been facing for many months.
Blessed Sunday to you all. Good Nite!
I pray you each have a Sabbath rest, a time to draw near and sense His presence in worship and through the day. Thank God for the Sabbath or we might go crazy!
If you have more insights, please share them. I won’t put up a new post until tomorrow sometime!
Hello Precious Sisters:
I haven’t been on here in a week! I’ve been doing my daily time with my Lord, and reading Dee’s emails. I also received the “God of all Comfort Study Guide” w/Amy Shreve’s CD. What a blessing! I’ve listened to it over & over again. How did she know to put all my favorite hymns…ones that have sustained me through so much…on one CD?! I feel truly “kissed” by God as I soak it all in.
I’ve read all you posts, and psalm 30. There is so very much in these verses!
A. Psalm 30:1-3 PRAISE GOD FOR HIS HEALING GRACE
Thank you, Father, for guiding me through all the dark times. As I look back over my years of following you, I see myself as a blind person being led by my precious Savior’s nail-scarred hand: through the landmines Satan has put in my path; past the roadblocks to peace built with my own hands; over the mountains of doubt looming before me. Praise You for Your patient guidance!
I love how many of you have commented on the power of music — leading perfectly into the next post I’m working on as we head into Chapter 3.
Nancy Lee DeMoss says: “When our lives are all roses and no thorns, we tend to be spiritually complacent. We neglect serious self-examination and confession. But affliction has a way of stripping away the stubborn deposits of selfishness that build up in the course of everyday life.”
B. Psalm 30: 4-10 PRAISE THE LORD THAT HIS CHASTENING LEADS TO RENEWAL
Dear God, You have proven yourself faithful in my life over & over again. You have taught me to trust You no matter how things look at the moment. Each time You put me in the furnace of affliction, I come out praising you for your steadfast love and goodness. I can truly see that “All things work together for my good” according to Romans 8:28.
Hie Dee and all sisters of comfort
Yesterday was Homecoming Day @ church. The Presence of God was evident. I sung Be Still My Soul all the way thru during my personal worship time at home and the lst line of the last stanza jumped at me.
‘Be still my soul, the song of praise begin’. I stood in the ‘court of praise’ (with the rest of the choir) and sang ‘I Call You Faithful’.
Yesterday marked an end to a leg of my spiritual journey. I’m done walking a very dark path. Here’s the final section of Ps 30 from my perspective.
C.Faithful, You transformed my dismal situation into a darling celebration of Your love and mercy.
You have removed my clothes of captivity-deception, dominion of sin, hopelessness, insanity, and insecurity-and now I wear Your goodness, peace, joy, power, hope, faith, and truth.
For the rest of my days I will magnify Your Precious Name.
Thanksgiving will flow continually.