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lichés are a way of life. with God!
They keep us from having
Cto reveal our true selves. God's Word was written to be
Rather than being a vehicle for studied, understood, and applied,
expressing true feelings, such and the book of Psalms lends
empty words often cover up the itself most directly to application.
real person. But genuine relation- We understand Psalms best when
ships are built on honest commu- we "stand under" them and allow
nication, where we share with them to flow over us like a rain
others who we really are. It is only shower. We may turn to Psalms
when honest feelings are shared looking for something, but sooner
that real people can be known, or later we will meet Someone. As
loved, and helped at the deepest we read and memorize the
levels. psalms, we will gradually dis-
cover how much they are already
Often, patterns of superficial part of us. They put into words our
communication spill over into our deepest hurts, longings,
talks with God. We easily slide thoughts, and prayers. They
through well-worn lines recited gently push us forward to being
for decades, or we quickly toss a what God designed us to be -
cliché or two at God and call it people loving and living for Him!
prayer! There is no doubt that God
hears and understands these — ooo OOO ooo —
feeble attempts, but by limiting
the depth of our communication, When you want to find comfort,
we become shallow in our read Psalm 23.
relationship with God. But He
knows us, and He wants to have When you want to meet God
genuine communication with us. intimately, read Psalm 103.
At the centre of the Bible is the When you want to learn a new
book of Psalms. This great prayer and give thanks to God,
collection of songs and prayers read Psalm 136.
expresses the heart and soul of
humanity. In them, the whole When you want to learn a new
range of human experiences is song, read Psalm 92.
expressed. There are no clichés
in this book. Instead, David and When you want to learn more
the other writers honestly pour about God, read Psalm 24.
out their true feelings, reflecting a
dynamic, powerful, and life- When you want to understand
changing friendship with God. yourself more clearly, read Ps. 8.
The psalmists confess their sins,
express their doubts and fears, When you want to know how to
ask God for help in times of come to God each day, read
trouble, and they praise and Psalm 5.
worship Him.
When you want to be forgiven for
As you read the book of Psalms, your sins, read Psalm 51.
you will hear believers crying out
to God from the depths of despair, When you want to feel worthwhile,
and you will hear them singing to read Psalm 139.
Him in the heights of celebration.
But whether despairing or rejoi- When you want to understand
cing, you will always hear them why you should read the Bible,
sharing honest feelings with their read Psalm 119.
God. Because of the honesty
expressed by the psalmists, men When you want to give praise to
and women throughout history God, read Psalm 145.
have come, again and again, to
the book of Psalms for comfort When you want to know that God
during times of struggle and is in control, read Psalm 146.
distress. And with the psalmists,
they have risen from the depths of When you want to please God,
despair to new heights of joy and read Psalm 15.
praise as they also discovered the
power of God's everlasting love When you want to know why you
and forgiveness. Let the honesty should worship God, read Ps. 104.
of the psalmists guide you into a [Life Application Bible, Tyndale
deeper and genuine relationship House Publishers, Inc., 1988].