Psalms: Then & Now

The Psalms are one of my favorite books in the Bible. The authors are not afraid to tell God how they really feel, even if they know what they are feeling isn't really true. What makes this so neat is that God cares about how we feel, even if it is misguided. He wants to us to be truthful with Him and to share with Him EVERYTHING. So if we don't like His timing,  if we're angry at Him, or we are overcome with joy in His presence, He is okay with us telling Him- He can handle whatever we throw at Him, because, well, He's God.

One of the really cool traits of the psalms is that many of them are simply songs of praise to our magnificent and loving God. Also, many start out as prayers of desperation and end in songs of praise. Often the authors begin to remember that the God they are crying out to has saved them before and is much greater than the trial that is currently overwhelming them.

In my own life, I find that it is usually easier for me to be completely honest with God by writing out my prayers. Sometimes I go back and read what I have written. When I do so, I often find that my prayers are similar to the psalms. I cry and lament, and then many times I end up reminding myself Who it is that I am praying to and what He has done for me in the past. Maybe I'm weird, but the similarity fascinates me. It also tells me that God has been handling human fickleness a lot longer than I have been around. Although it has to be somewhat irritating to keep teaching His followers the same lessons over and over, He continues to do so with more love than any of us possess. "My Child, my timing is perfect." "Dear One, I see your pain. I am here and will protect you." "I know you are angry, My Love, but it will be okay. You will one day see why this has happened." "Oh, My Precious One, see how the actions of others have clouded your perception of me? I will never cause you that kind of pain." So much patience and love....for every single person on the planet! It is so incredible to me.

Haha, I've gotten slightly off topic. God is so good, it is hard not to praise Him. So I will leave you with a prayer I found when I went back and looked through my journal. I wrote it in a form similar to the psalms. :)

Praise Him, all you people!
Praise Him, all the earth!
His ways are excellent,
His love, unfathomable.
He knows my every fear,
and yet He never leaves me.
He knows my doubts,
but protects me even more.
He loves me as His Daughter.
He loves me as His Bride.
How can I express the depth
of my gratitude and love?
You, O God, are my Rock and my Shield.
Only You can satisfy my soul,
Only You know my every thought and dream.
Day and night, my heart and soul cry out for You.
Tell me the things I should say and do.
Make me like You. Give me your heart, Father-
A heart that cries for the nations; for the people closest to me.
Give me the strength to love and the will to see them as You do.
Praise Him, all you people!
Praise Him, all you nations!
Praise His Name forever!