How To Quiet Your Soul

Sometimes my soul is uneasy. I feel anxious. I feel anxiety. Most of the time I know what's driving these feelings, but not all the time.

Lately, in addition to my morning Bible reading, I’ve added the Psalms to my reading. I read one or two Psalms. It’s like icing on the cake. The Psalms run the full gamut of highs and lows of our emotions. One of the primary writers of the Psalms is King David. David's life is extraordinary and tragic. He experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows. For several years, he was running for his life from his crazy father-in-law, King Saul.

When you read the Psalms, get a study Bible that explains who wrote the Psalm and why they wrote the Psalm. Knowing the backstory gives the Psalm a deeper meaning.

This morning I read Psalm 65. This particular Psalm was written by David. It’s a Psalm of thanksgiving for the many blessings of God. It’s beautifully written and has a poetic feel to it. It’s important to remember that the Psalms were actually written to be sung. They were literally written to be songs.

When I was in college, I used to go to a place on campus called the Redwood Bowl. I was surrounded by redwoods so tall I could hardly see the tops of them. Some were estimated to be over 2,000 years old. In that beautiful environment, I would often read the Psalms and sing the Psalms. It refreshed my soul and quieted my anxious thoughts.

When you read the Psalms, take your time. Meditate on them and, if you dare, sing them. Today or tomorrow morning, I challenge you to get into the habit of reading the Psalms. You will be glad you did!

Stay close to Jesus,

Steve