Category: Psalms

Need: A Condition Requiring Supply or Relief


The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. 
(Exodus 14:14)






In my journal, I wrote “need” in a circle and then wrote a cluster of words connected to that circle. Words like: plan, home, wholeness, food and God. Then from each of those word more words surfaced, but the repeating refrain were words like peace, rest, and quiet. 

I often complain that I don’t have enough time, but today that wasn’t on my list. Strangely I have plenty of time and we are headed out soon for our vacation with lots of hours to wile away. 

My more pressing need appears to be a plan. It is easy to think of vacation as a time of empty calendar squares to be filled with nothing or at least not the normal routine. We plan our vacation with details like where will we go, what will we see, what we need to bring, what clothes to wear, etc. Sometimes I resist planning because I think plans hinder fun and spontaneity.

But in reality, structure does allow us more flexibility. This flows over into my spiritual life. I must admit I have been winging it lately. Taking a meandering, nonchalant walk through Scripture. Dabbling in a devotion. Nibbling on Psalms. But no real meaty meditation or systematic study.

I need a plan. 

But I have another problem, namely too many choices. And let me tell you there are no shortage of plans for reading the Bible, praying to God, online Bible studies, community Bible studies, etc. But that is not the real problem. 

My real problem is acedia: spiritual boredom. It’s not a new phenomena, even the desert fathers struggled with it and prayed against it. 

I have read the Psalms before. I have participated in a variety of Bible studies. I have put on the armor of God. 

What am I lacking? Stillness. Just absorbing God. Letting Him fight for me, love me and release me. I need Him to forgive me for taking Him for granted. Eat my psalms, even if I am tired of them, like I tire of peas or broccoli. In the eating, I will begin to enjoy the nourishment again. Oh, to listen and hear Him speak to me, and not merely read the words on the page, that is pure joy!

I need God. 



What do you need today?


Posted on by kelrohlf 3

Wake: A Track or Path Left

 
 
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
(Psalm 23:6 KJV)
 
 

 
 
The psalms are full of prayer language. The last verse of Psalm 23 has been following me around all week, begging to be mentioned today. One time a good friend of mine told me, that if she had two dogs, she would name them “mercy” and “goodness,” then mercy and goodness would be following her wherever she went.
 
This week as Psalm 23:6 kept hounding me, I wondered how often I leave mercy and goodness behind as I walk out the days of my life. I am not always successful, but God always covers up my tracks with His mercy and goodness. 
 
 
How about you?
What are you leaving in your wake?
 
 
 
Linking up with:
 
 
Still Saturday and The Sunday Community

Posted on by kelrohlf 7

Room: Opportunity or Scope for Something

 
 
Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
    You gave me room when I was in distress.
    Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
(Psalm 4:1 NRSV)
 
 
The more I think about prayer, the more questions surface in my heart. What is the purpose of prayer? Is prayer something to practice or is it practicing the presence of God? Does prayer change things or does it change me?
In reading Psalm 4 today, the opening verse sheds some light on my quandary. God can be trusted to bring about right in my life. He listens. He answers. He enlarges my perspective when I am in distress. Just being in His presence is grace. When I make prayer more than an entrance into His presence, I lose sight of the purpose of prayer—communion.
God makes room for me. He invites me to empty myself, to recognize my nothingness in light of His all-ness. He offers me various opportunities to express my love to Him. The capacity of God staggers me. And His very being thrills me like a spacious room. To be empty is to make space for God’s fullness.
 
Here’s an emptying prayer from early church history:
Sever me from myself that I may be grateful to you;
may I perish to myself that I may be safe in you;
may I die to myself that I may live in you;
may I wither to myself that I may blossom in you;
may I be emptied of myself that I may abound in you;
may I be nothing to myself that I may be all to you.
                                             (Desiderius Erasmus, 1466-1536)
 
What is the purpose of prayer in your life?
 
Posted on by kelrohlf 15

Poem: A Piece of Imaginative Writing in Verse

 
When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse
everything I know of you,
From Jordan depths to Hermon heights,
including Mount Mizar.
Chaos calls to chaos,
to the tune of whitewater rapids.
Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers
crash and crush me.

Then God promises to love me all day,
sing songs all through the night!
My life is God’s prayer.
 

(Psalm 42:6-8 The Message)

Psalms and poems,
April showers and May flowers
That is what Spring is made of.

The poetic language of the Psalms express my heart, as my joy ebbs and flows with the sunshine and clouds of Spring. To celebrate and contemplate this season of joy, my heart is drawn to poetry and to flowers. Poetry is celebrated this month, so I thought I’d join the festivities by posting some poem/prayers of my own, some from others and some from God’s word.

Flowers are the iconic representation of Spring, and with my new access to varieties unlimited through the Missouri Botanical Gardens, I will have photos to share. Last week, I went with my sister and the nieces and nephews. We were able to enjoy the superb display of orchids.

I plan to highlight guest poems on Thursdays, so if you have a poem you’d like me to post or link up here, please send me an e-mail with your poem or link at kelrohlf@gmail.com

Without further ado, here are some flowers and  a poem.

cloudless blue (Kel Rohlf)

 

cloudless blue raked by bare branches

redbud blossoms soften the view
warmth of spring swishes past
with just a hint of winter chill

man made droning behind the scene

breaks in upon this dream
echoing a great stream rushing
behind the woodland screen

senses drop to the underbrush

greening, growing unseen life
lush
underneath the winter gloom

Posted on by kelrohlf 7