Psalm 130 (MSG)
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
1-2 Help, God—I’ve hit rock bottom!
Master, hear my cry for help!
Listen hard! Open your ears!
Listen to my cries for mercy.
3-4 If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings,
who would stand a chance?
As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,
and that’s why you’re worshiped.
5-6 I pray to God—my life a prayer—
and wait for what he’ll say and do.
My life’s on the line before God, my Lord,
waiting and watching till morning,
waiting and watching till morning.
7-8 O Israel, wait and watch for God—
with God’s arrival comes love,
with God’s arrival comes generous redemption.
No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel,
buy back Israel from captivity to sin.
“Spiritual identity means we are not what we do or what people say about us. And we are not what we have. We are the beloved of God.”
“If you believe you are the beloved of God, you need to spend time listening to his voice – period!”
-Henri Nouwen
“When I am liberated by silence, when I am no longer involved in the measurement of life, but in the living of it, I can discover a form of prayer in which there is effectively, no distraction. My whole life becomes a prayer. The whole world of silence in which I am immersed contributes to my prayer.” –Thomas Merton, Thoughts In Solitude
Reflection
With God, read through the Psalm quietly and slowly at least three times. Notice what stands out to you.
Read the quotes and with God notice whatever it is that might be rising up from your inner sanctuary.
Give gratitude for the time with God or whatever has arisen today.