Today’s Lectio Divina: Excerpts from Psalm 71. (MsgB)

I’ll write the book on Your righteousness, talk up Your salvation the livelong day, never run out of good things to write or say. I come in the power of the Lord God, I post signs marking His right-of-way. 

I never really thought of myself as an author. A writer. And quite honestly, I’m not sure I do today, even after writing hundreds of blog entries over the last few years.

Writers and authors write exciting novels and riveting compositions.

Me? I just write blogs about God. And like the Psalmist, I never seem to run out of good things to write or say. So here I go, once again…

For me, writing about God is therapeutic. It makes me do something I know that’s good for me. It really doesn’t matter if others read what I write. It’s really only important that I write.

You see, several years ago, I was in the midst of one of the toughest times I’ve ever experienced in pastoral ministry. I was in a personal crisis. The church that I’d successfully planted back in 1998 was experiencing a true shaking. People were unhappy. Friends and family were leaving in droves with little or no explanation. Nothing I seemed to do in ministry was working. Everything I’d ever been taught over the years; how to build a successful church, etc. was being shaken to the core. I’ve written about this season of life in my blogs over the years, so I won’t bore you with more details here.

Suffice to say, I was one unhappy puppy.

So one cold November morning, I had a vivid dream as I was waking up in bed. A bright presence appeared in my dream. To this day, I’m not sure if it was Jesus, Himself, or one very bright angelic friend of His. The figure pointed to a massive book sitting on a large lectern. I walked over to the book. I wasn’t sure if it was a Bible or God’s Book of Life. I guess that’s not important because, as I see it, in many ways, the Bible is God’s Book of Life. As I stared at the big book, wondering what was inside, I heard a voice over my shoulder say very clearly, “Marty, open the book.”

Since that day, I’ve done my best to do just that. I decided that the best way for me to apply the words that I’m reading in God’s Book was to blog my way through His Word. I still have a long way to go. I’ve blogged through Luke and Acts. Colossians and Ephesians. I’ve done a leadership blog in John’s Gospel and now I’m working my way through 150 Psalms. Thanks to Eugene Peterson and his Message Bible, the words are fresh and inviting to an old geezer like me.

Through it all, I pray that I’m doing what the Psalmist says of himself here in Psalm 71.

I’ll write the book on Your righteousness, talk up Your salvation the livelong day, never run out of good things to write or say. I come in the power of the Lord God, I post signs marking His right-of-way.

With God’s power, I pray that my words are posting in my heart and soul sign-posts marking God’s right-of-way. Words that I can go back to again and again and read, reminding me of my trek with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

What about you? If I can write, I’m guessing so can you.

I have a good friend who started jotting down his thoughts here and there about a year or so ago. He usually carries a little notebook in his shirt pocket and from time to time, he’d jot down a thing or two that he sensed God showing him. Recently, my friend decided to gather up all of his little bits of scrap paper into one larger volume. He now calls it his personalized Book of Acts.

I like that. Keeping track of all God is doing in our lives, writing it down before we forget it, is one great way to keep on the straight and narrow with God.

Hmm. Wanna join us?

Maybe all you need to do today is to find a bit of time to sit down and start jotting down your thoughts. Don’t worry about being a significant writer or a great author. Just “open the book,” reflect on what you’re reading, and then write. Talk about all God is doing in and around your life as you reflect upon His Holy Word. I can tell you from personal experience, if you keep at it, it will bring joy and comfort to your soul.

My prayer: Lord, thank You for both the circumstances that pushed me, and the dream that convinced me, to “open the book” and begin writing. May I continually write words that post sign-posts that mark Your right-of-way. And since You are both timeless and limitless, I know I’ll never run out of good things to say and write about You. For Your name’s sake. Amen.

My questions to ponder: How can I let go of any thoughts or desires that make me write so that others will read what I say? How can I free myself from such fleshly expectations so that I can just simply write to edify myself, placing sign-posts in the ground so that I can go back to them on days I feel I’m losing my way?

So what is God speaking to you today as you ponder the Psalms?

Over a 50-week period, you and I will take a deeper look at The Psalms: God’s Songbook of Prayers. In order to keep all the blog sessions organized, we suggest you bookmark our Contemplating the Psalms home page for ease of use. Keep in mind that one of the best ways to explore the on-going applications of this blog series is to walk alongside a biblically-based, Christ-centered spiritual director who is familiar with how to make material like this part of your overall spiritual formation in God. Many of our directors in our Sustainable Faith-Heartland network are available to companion you in your journey with Jesus. Click here for more info.

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