Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 56 verse 13

Today’s verse is Psalm 56 VERSE 13

“... that I may walk before God in the light of life.”

Background:

Psalm 56 in some Bible versions is entitled “Trust in God under Persecution.” It is attributed to King David and considered representative of him or anyone else hiding from an enemy. Many of David’s Psalms have a pattern. He starts with a problem, he prays about it and then he praises God for solving the problem. In this Psalm he praises God for his deliverance from death and that he walks with God in the light of life (verse 13).

When I was diagnosed with cancer, someone said to me “Don’t worry, you’ve done more in your 40 years than many have done in 80”.  I am fit and well now but at the time I thought that was a dreadful remark as who wants to die? However, I have remembered that statement time and time again in the context of we do need to live our life to the full with every day of life we have.  There are only two things certain in life-death and taxes, as Benjamin Franklin wrote. We need to grasp each day, not knowing the day or time, the candle may be blown out, so to speak, and not just walk forward but walk before God as the Psalmist writes.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful, at life’s end, to feel that you could stand on the top of a mountain, survey your life laid out before you and be able to say “I’ve done what I could and done what matters?”

Trust in God for resilience and confidence and walk with him into the light of each new day.

Meditation

1. Find a Quiet Place. 

 Sit comfortably but alert – feet flat on the floor, back pushed hard against the back of the chair. Start your reflection by being open and ready 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. Say verse 13 to yourself.

 “…that I may walk before God in the light of life.”

5. Listen to God.

In the stillness listen to what God might be saying to you about your daily life and how to walk with him. Finish with the prayer below.

6. Finish with this prayer:

Loving God, you walk with us every step of the way. We may not feel that you are there but you are always there leading us into the light. Free us from anxiety and help us to find courage in your Word. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.