psalm 31

psalm 31

branches lifted, shifting

dancing in the breeze

dogs staccato barking

chase beneath the trees

cattle calling lowly

soon the birds join in

choruses of worship

where the air is thin

I, in silent wonder

need not make a sound

while all else that has breath

let’s His praise abound

psalm 30

psalm 30

there is a direct line, connection 

between my hand and heart

when I lift one, the other elevates 

there is a direct line, connection

between thanksgiving and contentment

when I drop one, the other falls

but shall I bless Your name

for selfish gain

forgive me when praise

has been for reasons

other than Your worth-ship

please receive me 

with no false intent, that I may be

awestruck by holiness

silenced by glory

psalm 29

psalm 29

the morning sun

the evening stars

mid-day rain refreshing

You are

all I can imagine

and beyond

You have shattered every box

we ever thought could hold You

higher, wider, deeper

I come knocking, devastate me

with Your beauty

consume me with Your glory

leave me broken

and yet whole, in You

psalm 28

psalm 28

all that I have, piles of nothing

all that I am, dust

all that I need, You

as You I magnify

and You I glorify

You will satisfy

all that I am

psalm 27

psalm 27

why do I hesitate to linger

in Your presence, the place of fullness

where submitted, surrendered

I am surrounded, filled

with peace, contentment

joy unspeakable

why would I choose to turn

in any other direction?

teach me, my Lord, Master

to run only to You

psalm 26

psalm 26

rejoice for the sun rises

and here am I while many

did not awake to see this day

broken wide open in glory

the safety of Your promises

sheltering me, driving me

comforting me, filling me 

with courage to shout 

Your name, proclaim 

Your majesty

and walk again 

into the newness 

of life in The Light

psalm 25

psalm 25

I have known too well

the darkness, deep pools

that beckon, lies convincing

sharp edges hidden 

in the appearance of softness

muting all sensibility

“come down lower

come quick come”

I have known too well

the tricks, skilled at a game 

I thought I was winning

while You waited, patient

knowing You created me for light

Your voice ringing clear, clean, true

“come up higher

come away with Me”

only by Your Spirit

did I choose the better way

psalm 24

psalm 24

when I stop, breathe

cast a glance, up

down, around

there You are

beauty, power, glory

inescapable and undeniable

only a fool contests

psalm 23

psalm 23

this world down here, Lord?

is filled with clutter and chatter

people struggling to be heard

sound building upon sound

until I hear everything and

nothing but the endless noise

I want to know the sweet song

of my shepherd, the voice that is true

that leads me to the silence

to safety, abundance and peace

where I will feast on Your presence

forevermore

psalm 22

psalm 22

colour streaks the end of day

lived hard, but well

marked by Your hand alone

who could deny the glory?

psalm 21

psalm 21

I grow weary, waiting

knuckle nerves firing

pain as I grasp that thin rope

my heart often as shredded

as those frayed ends

my cries to You sound

childish, weak, nails scratching

on chalkboard

and You, are not surprised

or annoyed when I call

no, You long for my coming

your answer today, like yesterday

hold on, as if I would seek comfort

elsewhere,  I hold on, and on

to You

psalm 20

psalm 20

if earth is Your ottoman

how merciful your heart

that You do not crush us

under foot

we live in Your shadow

ever sheltered

ever safe

because of love

because of grace

psalm 19

psalm 19

only You, one hand raised

can calm this storm

only You, silent, still

can speak all things

only You, Lord and King

can Master me

only You

psalm 18

psalm 18

Lord, hear Your people

thirsty tears streaming

recognising that enough

is not enough of You,

Who will pour out

more than we can hold

broken vessels, created

by divine design to drip

leaking light, truth

love  

psalm 17

psalm 17

my mouth orates heart

intentions spoken as 

truth, while the flesh kicks

screams, contends for itself

I consent to the breaking

but my humanness struggles

to pick up pieces

recreate in its own way

help me to surrender my Lord

my Master, the only One

let me be shattered, reconstructed

by Your hand alone

psalm 16

psalm 16

and You suffered through

all that I can imagine

every tear, drizzle

or deluge

each prick of pain, jagged 

sharp and raw

You felt it, carried it

before I noticed

and You whisper low

into my cloud

“come, let’s talk about it

I’ll take that from you”

why then do I sit reluctant

almost afraid to release what I 

never needed

let it go

Your hands far more

capable than mine

psalm 15

psalm 15

another morning, fresh

Your hand never rests

creating light

the wind gentle

into a the day

all nature bows 

a portrait of submission

searching for new ways to worship

ever anxious to adore

psalm 14

psalm 14

here again I am

not on my knees

this flesh too ripe for bruising

I ask your pardon if my position

appears rebellious, lacking piety

or poise, my spirit is bowed low

the part of me that cannot be seen

but You see, and You know

and I need not give a moment away

to fear of man’s disapproval 

here again am I

heart surrendered, not for show

for real

Here’s what I want you to do: 
Find a quiet, secluded place 
so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. 
Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. 
The focus will shift from you to God, 
and you will begin to sense his grace.
Matthew 6:6 The Message

psalm 13

psalm 13

night by night

I seek the stillness of sleep

to be lost, caught up in dreams

light sneaks through window cracks

in the silence

inner noise is deafening

let me hear from You

I wait, turning

let me hear from You

psalm 12

psalm 12

I have been quiet, compliant

not wishing to disturb 

as if You did not already know

my heart songs

the deep, low wail of distress

questions build upon questions

ever seeking the answer

that would obliterate the need

for more discussion, yet

I hear, more than enough

the expected reply  “wait”

the ache rushes in, the sad sinking

“how long then?” my lament

 is sharp, cold, bitter

“how long?” David also queried

and waited, aching, lamenting

yet choosing to turn, I will also turn

my back to the wall 

and the wind, and the wail

and I will worship, yes worship

until…

psalm 11

psalm 11

to choose to walk surrendered

a laying down, giving over

day after day, moment by moment

this a precious, priceless, peculiar

path, a way contrary to the world

spirit rising as flesh descends

what earthy mind can reason it out?

this,  a radical, relational, remarkable

road, not by my choosing I tread

a continual dying gives way

to life

psalm 10

psalm 10

and even if the sun refused to rise

and even if the darkness closed in thick and heavy

and even if I could not count a friend among the living

and even if I wandered long with no direction

and even if I lost my words

my soul would yet rejoice

my heart would elevate in praise

You are worthy, more than worthy

greater still than “even if"

psalm 9

psalm 9

this pair of eyes looks hard

up and down, around

seeing all there is to see

naturally, but with lenses self-crafted

that distort, deceive, and deny truth

mirroring back what my wicked heat desires

this pair of ears listens hard

hearing what there is to hear

naturally, but with filters self-designed

to mute or amplify or alter sounds

echoing back what my hungry heart requests

too much of me, ENOUGH of me 

give me Your eyes, Your ears

vision and perception Holy Spirit clarified

to know and be known by You

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. 

Now I know in part, but then I shall know 

just as I also am known.

1 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV

psalm 8

psalm 8

after all 

before all

centre of all things

desperately I seek to know You

even as I ache to be known

fractured and broken I come

grateful for Your reception

hungry for a taste of Your

intensity

justice

kindness

love without restraint or

measure

nowhere else can we find such an

open door of

promise, yet our 

questions never cease

reason blocks true sight

stops forward motion, leaves us

tired and frozen in place

until the touch of Holy Spirit

whispers and Your

x-ray vision pierces a heart, now

zealous for more, only more of You

psalm 7

psalm 7

when life seemed unredeemable

not merely broken, shattered

when the pieces could not fit back together

no glue or tape could mend

when You looked upon our depravation

You chose the only tools of restoration

when You boldly took the nails that saved us all

and blood flowed free

and grace flowed free

at Your cross I fall 

claimed and surrendered

where love flows free eternally

psalm 6

psalm 6

Master of the rain, Keeper of the sun

Ruler of the border between day and night

Holy is Your name, all surpassing Love

often I am silenced, trembling at the sight

of Your creative breath, that once spoke life

and speaking still sustains us all

psalm 5

Psalm 5

where can I go to find peace

comfort, joy?

all that nourishes, sustains

is hidden in You

I cannot comprehend

explain, imagine

any power wider, deeper

stronger than Your love

You and You and You alone

three but One

perfect in unity

what is the colour of holiness?

what is the sound of truth?

what is the taste of glory?

You and You and You alone

together

psalm 4

Psalm 4

the world spins often 

too wide, fast

eyes strain to focus

heart grasping for a hold

in the midst of the wild

I get lost in the turning

help me to trust

deep, long

when I cannot see You

may my praise echo loud

from the haze

Psalm 3

Psalm 3

if I had millions of phrases

a basketful of languages

and eloquent oration skills

my tongue would yet fail

words cannot, will not

contain You

You are beyond all attempts

at description

glory beyond measure

and who am I

to call You mine?

Psalms for Lent

A young writer friend and I have chosen to write a psalm a day during this Lenten season. Here then are my day 1 and day 2 attempts:

Psalm 1

to Him who holds my breath

inhale Spirit

exhale flesh

You alone are worthy

of all of my words

to You, of You, from You

now and evermore

Psalm 2

I circle round and back to You

always to You, my Light, the Source

of all that lives, and breathes

and shines

the darkness never dark

in You

why should I choose the shadows

as if I could hide

what You already know

stepping in to my Light

shine on

not for me, for Your glory