God-centred self-talk

Psalm 42

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

¹ As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
² I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
³ Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”

⁴ My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration!

⁵ Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!|
I will praise him again—
my Savior and ⁶ my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
from the land of Mount Mizar.
⁷ I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
⁸ But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.

⁹ “O God my rock,” I cry,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?”
¹⁰ Their taunts break my bones.
They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”

¹¹ Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!

I’m reminded again of a personal spiritual discipline I have let slip recently – the skill of edifying, God-centred self-talk. David practised this skill as seen in passages like 1 Samual 30:6. The writer of Lamentations also practised this principle in Lamentations 3:24, “I will say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him.” This skill of edifying self-talk is something I need to rediscover.

The Psalmist knew this skill well, employing a self-talk poem twice in this Psalm (see verses 5 and 11) and the same poem in the next (see Ps 43:5). He begins with a question – as if challenging himself with the absurdity of doubting God. Yet, at the same time, he acknowledges how discouraged and sad he feels. Then comes the resolution – “I will put my hope in God.”

Why don’t you join me today, and say the following to yourself – “Has God ever left you? Has he ever let you down? Has his promises ever failed you? Has his love for you ever waned? Come on, oh my down-cast Soul – get up and praise Him! He will never let you down!

Lord, please help me remember to develop and use this skill, this muscle – to build up myself with the truth – Your truth. I know you will never let me down. Amen

Written by B van Noppen