Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 63 verse 1

Today’s verse is Psalm 63 VERSE 1

“O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you."

Background:

Psalm 63 is entitled “Comfort and Assurance in God’s Presence.” It is attributed to King David and its theme concerns being stranded in the wilderness away from one’s family. The first part evokes desire, praise and then trust in God. The image of the arid earth does not express the absence of God as in other psalms, but rather the aspiration to meet God in this barren place. Confidence in God’s love is then expressed by the symbolism of the protective bird. Of course, not only can we feel physically away from our families, but when we feel that God is not near us either, it is as if we are thirsting for Him.

Sometimes when people are discovering faith they say that it feels as if they are “thirsting” for something and really wanting to delve into the scriptures or explore their prayer life. It is almost as if the body knows what it needs. To me, this is also a demonstration that there is a God. We eat because we feel hungry and look for food, which does indeed exist. We feel thirsty and look for water, which also exists. We look for meaning in our lives and call out to a spirituality or a God, which does exist. Would we have that need or cry out to something that does not exist? It is an interesting way to think about faith and that deep inner search for meaning that exists in all of us.

The times we are thirsting for God are often when we are pushed to extremes. God then enters our lives in abundance and we feel truly refreshed. As it says in verse 5 “My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast.” Just as water is vital for life and without it we will die, as we find God in our lives we feel refreshed and fully alive!

Meditation

1. FIND A QUIET PLACE. 

Make sure that you are in a quiet place. Sit comfortably but alert – feet flat on the floor, back pushed hard against the back of the chair. Start your reflection with hands cupped open ready to be open to God’s presence.

2. Focus on your breathing.

Pay attention to in-breaths and out-breaths. You may think of breathing in God’s life and peace and breathing out any tension.

3. Be aware of your body.

Let your aches and pains be there. Rest your hands in your lap; you don’t need to be doing anything with them now. Rest your feet on the floor; you don’t need to go anywhere. Shrug your shoulders, ease your neck. Take time to become still…

4. Repeat the verse

Take time to become still and repeat verse 5 to yourself and intersperse this with periods of silence. Empty your head and wait to see what emerges.

5. Listen to God

In the stillness listen to what God might be saying to you. Finish with the prayer below.

6. Finish with this prayer:

To you we come, life-giving Lord, who refreshes us and makes us anew. In the droughts of life, fill us with your living water that we feel at peace and truly fulfilled in our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen