Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

As we have been reading through the Psalms, I’m sure you’ve noticed the rollercoaster of emotions. Can anyone relate?!

The Psalms are poetic and oftentimes read as trains of thought. In many of the chapters, the perspective shifts somewhere in the middle of the passage, and we can see exactly what God has done, who He is, the truth about Him, followed by how we can respond and how our lives can reflect His goodness.

As you read and study the Psalms, allow yourself to identify with the shifting of perspective – from the cries of outrage to desperation to adoration and the proclamation of God’s goodness. From the pit to the victory, from the darkness to the light, and from the depressed to the grateful – God’s Word relates to each and every emotion, and God’s presence fills each and every space.

A very real emotion for me is longing – a deep desire for something special. I long for intimacy with God, I long for special moments with my family, I long for deep friendships, and the list goes on and on. There are some things I long for that I don’t have yet, and there are things I have fully that I continue to long for – things I never want to end or run out.

Psalm 42: 7-8 are some of my favorite words in all of scripture, and I have them underlined, circled, highlighted, and re-written in every copy of the Bible I own! To me, they read like a love song to my God – a longing for more of Him even when I have all of Him.

When you read those verses, do they feel like a longing for something you’ve never had? Or a longing for what you have and love?

Either way, know this – He will send His faithful love by day and His song in the night. He is worthy of our longings, and He is found IN our longings. He is the ultimate satisfaction TO our longings. He is the fullness of everything we could ever desire, hope for, and want.

In moments of celebration, you can walk away with joyful and thankful shouts! In moments of deep depression, you can remember His promises. And in the mundane middle, you can put your hope in God and continue to praise Him because He is your Savior and your God!

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
  
• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
  
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
  
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
  
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.