Writing Out the Psalms {An Update}

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This year I am doing something a bit different when it comes to my quiet time. There is no women's Bible study that I am opening up each morning {Although in the past I have done tons of them.} I am spending my efforts in God's Word by slowing down and doing only two things, Think On These Things and writing out the book of Psalms. I just recently finished writing the first book in the book of Psalms {chapters 1-41}. {The chapters in Psalms are divided into five books.} I have come to realize that as I hand write out every verse that I am connecting more with the message of the Psalms. I have a deeper understanding simply because I am slowing down to write.

Little did I know, however, that as I write I am seeing my life in the Psalms. There are verses I am really connecting with because I have lived them! It seems that I never saw them before until I slowed down enough to really hear what they were saying. As I write each chapter, the book becomes more and more precious to me. Here are a few examples that have jumped out at me...

"I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many of thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around." Psalm 3:5-6

Ok, so I have to admit that I have not had a thousand people rise up against me, but I have had a few groups rise up against me during my life. It is devastating! Through it all, I have learned that God can sustain me in the midst of terrible rejection and conflict.  Maybe you, too, have experienced people coming up against you. He is there for you and will walk you through it.

"He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me." Psalm 18:19

In the past few years, God has brought me to a place where I could breathe and live without conflict. It is a spacious place of healing. I have also had to relearn that truly He delights in me. I am the apple of His eye.

Psalm 27. Take a moment. Read it all.

I can connect with this whole chapter! It is so precious to me. I have had many of these things happen to me and totally understand what David was writing about. It is my prayer that I will "look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" as verse thirteen states.

"You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told." Psalm 40:5

Keeping a gratitude journal is one of the best quiet time practices I ever started. I have been listing God's gifts to me over the past several years, and I can attest to the fact that I can't really list them all. There are definitely more than can be told!

I encourage you that if you are between Bible studies or looking for some way to dig into God's Word on your own to try writing out scripture. It doesn't have to be the whole book of Psalms. It could be a smaller book or just certain passages. Here are some tips...

• Buy a journal. Having all your copying in one little book keeps things organized. I love 
these journals because they lay flat! Easier to write in, especially for a left-handed person like me.

• Get some decent pens. I personally love these gel ink pens.

• Be consistent. Even if you don't write out a bunch of verses, it is wise to make a habit of doing a little each day.

• Re-read after you write. I make myself read what I have written for the day. If I am in the middle of the chapter I will start at the beginning of it and read up to what I have written. Or when I finish a chapter I will go back and read all the verses from it. It helps give a big picture to what I just wrote down.

• Don't stress it. This isn't about getting quickly to the end of the chapter or book. At least that is what I tell myself all the time. It is about letting God's Word soak into your soul. Slow down. Take your time.