Truth, feel, praise

Psalms is not a book I've always found inspiring. However, dissection - of anything, animal, plant, insect and word - happens to be my strong suit. When I heard this explanation of the lyrical form of the Psalms, I immediately started reading them.

1. Face the truth of your situation. God never tells us to be perfect, to be nice and  pretend.
2. Feel everything in the moment. I am the worst possible example of this phrase, numbing out instead. Search your heart, have the courage to feel and to be exposed.
3. Praise God for Who He really is. All the powers of evil can't hold a candle to God's greatness.

This is a practice for everyday Christian living, especially for those of us under emotional or spiritual fire. Face the truth, feel, then praise. Each point is key - without facing the truth we don't feel it. Without feeling it, we can't really face it or turn to Christ in our overwhelmed heart. Don't meditate on your dark thoughts, instead turning your mind to the Word of God.

Out here in this world, we draw lines in the sand and we build walls in our hearts that we suppose keep the structure straight, so that your heart will never crumble. In heaven, the walls were built by the master Carpenter and they truly do keep you safe.

Staying in the truth, feel, praise paradigm isn't easy, even in a given moment. How to avoid losing our way? Refuse to ever be in either of these two situations:

1. Never stand still in a path of sin. Even if it is 1 step forward, 2 steps back at first. You should be learning and growing. (I am, even through depression) Righteous people are moving to become more Christ and less themselves.
2. Never sit in the seat of the scornful, passing judgment on every passerby, constantly judging your own righteousness by the yardstick of the failure of others.

You do your work the best that you can
you put one foot in front of the other
life comes in waves and makes its demands
you hold on as well as you're able

You've been here for a long long time

Hope has a way of turning its face to you
just when you least expect it
you walk in a room
you look out a window
and something there leaves you breathless
you say to yourself
it's been a while since I felt this
but it feels like it might be hope

It's hard to recall what blew out the flame
it's been dark since you can remember
you talk it all through to find it a name
as days go on by without number
~It Might Be Hope, Sara Groves~