Longing for God: Lectio Divina Psalm 63:1-11
Hello, it’s Jessica Stong.
I’d like to invite you to join me in a Lectio Divina around Psalm 63: 1-11.
We are talking about our longing for God. So just really quickly, this Psalm is a Psalm of devotion.
David prayed it when he was in the wilderness, perhaps when he also fled for his life, during his son’s treason, but he longs for God and finds satisfaction in him.
So as always, with our Lectio Divina practice, we’re going to read this three different times and I’m going to provide for you the prompt ahead of time.
Prayer
I would love for you to join me in praying first and then we will practice this together. Let us pray.
Oh, loving God, you are the God who sees us, thirsting, who sees us yearning for you.
Open our eyes, open our ears as we seek you in all that we are and all that we do.
Speak to us. We are listening, Lord.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
First Reading
We are going to look for one phrase, or one word that the Holy Spirit might be impressing on you as I read the Psalm 63:1-11.
Oh God, you are my God. Earnestly I seek you.
My soul thirsts for you. My body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live and in your name, I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods.
With singing lips, my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I will remember you. I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you.
Your right hand upholds Me.
Those who seek my life will be destroyed.
They will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword and will become food for jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God.
All who swear by God’s name will praise him while the mouth of liars will be silenced.
Reflection
So we’ll just take a few minutes for you to reflect on what one word or phrase the Holy Spirit is impressing upon you. I just ask for you to meditate on that.
Please feel free to pause this recording should you need more time in between our readings.
Second Reading
Now I invite you to listen and reflect on how you feel. Maybe there’s a specific situation that this relates to in your life today.
God, you are my God. Earnestly I seek you.
My soul thirsts for you. My body longs for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
I’ve seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
I will sing. I will praise you as long as I live and in your name, I lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods.
With singing lips, my mouth will praise you.
On my bed, I remember you. I think of you through the watches of night.
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you. Your right hand upholds me.
They who seek my life will be destroyed.
They will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword and will be food for jackals, but the king will rejoice in God.
All who swear by God’s name will praise him while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
Reflection
What do you feel?
What specific situation in your life today does this relate?
Please write down your prayer or pray quietly.
Third Reading
Finally, I’m going to read this one last time and I ask for you to consider God’s personal invitation to you from the Scripture.
O God, you are my God. Earnestly I seek for you.
My soul thirsts for you. My body longs for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
I’ve seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live and in your name, I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods.
With singing lips, my mouth will praise you.
On my bed, I remember you. I think of you through the watches of night.
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you. Your right hand upholds me.
They who seek my life will be destroyed.
They will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword and will be food for jackals, but the king will rejoice in God.
All who swear by God’s name will praise him while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
Reflection
What is God’s personal invitation to you from the Scripture? Please take a few moments now and write down what the Lord might be saying to you, or even just write a simple prayer of thanks.
And maybe it’s time for you to just embrace the invitation to rest quietly in the Spirit’s presence.
Please feel free to pause this for as long as you need here, resting in this moment in the space with God.
When you’re ready, I would love to invite you to join me in prayer.
Prayer
God, you are our help.
You uphold us with your right hand.
Together we sing hallelujah for the way that you protect us, and the joy that you give us in our longing for you.
We sing in the shadow of your wings.
And so as we forever praise You, help us to seek you, help us to thirst for you.
In that longing we find that soul’s home, our soul’s place of rest and peace.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all that you have given us.
It is in your name we pray. Amen.
