Christian Living

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Psalm For The Blues
©

by

Stephen A. Peterson


It is 4:00 AM on October 31, 2003—Halloween Day. Although I am generally up at this time in the morning, I am bothered by the negative things of the day before. To compound my problems, I looked for relief in the Psalms only to view them as the whining, grieving and statements of hopelessness by two sinful kings trying to evade God’s justice. Laying the Bible down, I prayed to the Holy Spirit in an attempt to understand this book’s meaning. After roughly 40 minutes of prayer, I was helped to realize that the Psalmists, David and Solomon, were inspired to be brutally honest with God whom they had offended, disobeyed and repeatedly sinned against as I have and do! I also came to treasure the Psalms’ message of dutifully and wonderfully expressing every human emotion. These realizations helped me return to Psalms to pray them aloud that concluded in relief of the burdens I carried for more than a day. I was able to identify with the deep emotions, sin and lack of forgiving my offenders then seek after reconciliation with God. Once my sin was dealt with, I discovered there was plenty of room for love, praise and affirmation to enter into my spirit.

Now when I experience stressful burdens, I read Psalm 42. The first time I read this Psalm I pour out my fears and pain, “My tears have been my food day and night… O My God, my soul is cast down within me… I will say to God my Rock, ‘Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning?...”

I then re-read Psalm 42 after relieving my mind and soul of what stresses me. I then become the recipient of God’s forgiveness and healing. I read God’s encouragement, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the help of His countenance”.

So when you are burdened with fears, uncertainties or are blue, I suggest reading Psalm 42 twice.



Psalms To Use When:

--You are lonely—Psalm 23
--There is a storm in your life—Psalm 29
--You are grieving a death or loss—Psalm 73:21-28
--You cannot sleep—Psalm 4
--You are feeling guilty—Psalm 51: 1-17
--You are threatened and need protection—Psalm 91
--You are doubtful—Psalm 19: 7-14
--You are thankful—Psalm 136
--Life seems not worth living—Psalm 8
--You are afraid—Psalm 18: 28-36
--Your friend has wronged you—Psalm 55: 12-14 and 20-22
--You seem spiritually exhausted—Psalm 63: 1-8
--You are weary—Psalm 23
--You experience a tense moment—Psalm 23
--Danger occurs or it is life threatening—Psalm 121
--You are told God does not exist—Psalm 19
--You experience stressful burdens—Psalm 42

Prayer: My soul is thirsty for the Lord. When will I see Him face to face!

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