Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 64 verse 1

Today’s verse is Psalm 64 VERSE 1

“Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from the dread enemy."

Background:

Psalm 64 is entitled “Prayer for Protection from Enemies.” The psalm may be treated as a prayer for deliverance from enemies, or as a thanksgiving, or a testimony to divine judgement. The language of “enemies” seems a bit harsh these days. However, “enemies” can also represent our own deepest temptations or destructive emotions, for example, sometimes we perceive people against us when that is not really the case.

It is actually the case that when people say things to “hurt” us and we spend time thinking about it that we inevitably cause more harm to ourselves. I am sure we have all worked with someone at some point in our lives who seems out to cause us as much misery as possible. Don’t get me wrong, those people do exist! Yet is more likely that we spend time going over and over a situation in our minds when the person who caused it has probably long forgotten it and we may have projected our own feelings into the situation.  

The biggest benefit of having recovered from cancer is that I hope it has focused my mind on what is and is not important. One of the most helpful little prayers which I have found useful in situations of  feeling “attacked” is the Serenity Prayer written by the American theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr. “God, grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.”  

Praying to God to help us root out our “enemies” from our souls and to help us move forward is a beneficial aspect of prayer. 

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. Listen to God

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

5. Finish with this prayer:

Heavenly Father, cut through the feelings in my heart today, bring me to a point of grace and calm, that I may truly feel joy in Christ and trust in Him to make all things right. For he is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen