Lenten Devotion for Saturday, March 6

Today's lessons:

Psalm 63:1-8

Isaiah 5:1-7

Luke 6:43-45

Author:

Rev. Stacie Fidlar,

Pastor, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rock Island

Theme verses:

Psalm 63:1-8

A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah.

O God, you are my God, I seek you,
   my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
   as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
   beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
   my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
   I will lift up my hands and call on your name.

My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
   and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
when I think of you on my bed,
   and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
   and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
   your right hand upholds me.

Meditation:

For me this psalm begins before the psalm – it begins in those few words of description we often skip over: A Psalm of David, while he was in the wilderness of Judah.

Not before. Not looking back with relief after. But while he was in the wilderness.

While surrounded by chaos, my lips will praise you. While walking through a strange and parched land, I will bless you. While I still don’t know where this wilderness will end, I call upon your name and am satisfied.

I have seen a couple of wildernesses. Those were not my first thoughts.

But maybe that first line of the psalm is the key – maybe these prayers and peace come when we get past those first thoughts and let our hearts seek God. Maybe when we open up in hope, rather that pull back in fear, maybe that’s when we find out that God is never too far away. A quiet shadow of respite – a simple hand holding – a gentle spirit to cling to. Even while the wilderness surrounds us.

Prayer:

Gentle God – When I wander in the wilderness, be near. When I am lost and confused, be merciful. When I seek you, be close. Amen.