Facebook. This website has become the communication method of choice for young adults (and not-so-young adults and even non-adults) in the 21st century. It offers a means to have a personal conversation with a plethora of friends. Though not young (and certainly not hip), I’ve joined the Facebook community –largely to eavesdrop on my children!
One of the features unique to Facebook is the “Status.” It permits the writer to update her “profile” by giving her “Status.” Die-hard Facebookers may update their Status daily or even several times a day. (My status is updated on a time frame best described as “seasonal.”)
The Facebook Status clues in friends and acquaintances as to the mood, the situation, the challenges, the anxieties, the agenda faced by the Facebooker. Friends can then respond accordingly by sending messages or posting comments.
The original Facebook status began with the words “Laura is…” (in my case) and then the writer would finish the sentence. An interesting third-person approach that perhaps invited a higher degree of honesty.
Consider these Facebook Status options:
o “Laura is praising God for His goodness.”
o “Laura is frustrated with her enemy—the bathroom scale.
o “Laura is weary of having too-much-to-do and not-enough-time-to-do-it in.”
o “Laura is so blessed to be a Mom!”
o “Laura’s envelope is empty and there are still 11 days left in the month.”
o “Laura is depressed.”
o “Laura is ecstatic.”
o “Laura loves her man!”
Perhaps you read these status updates and would respond:
“Laura needs counseling.”
Or maybe you would respond:
‘Laura is a real person — just like me.”
If you are one of the latter, then perhaps you can also relate to another real person — the Psalmist(s). Dropped like an anchor in the center of the Bible are 150 Psalms penned by an estimated dozen or more authors. Many of these were written by David.
When I first became a student of the Bible, I did not appreciate the Psalms. Preferring to chase the exciting history of the Old Testament or follow close on the heels of Jesus in the New, I opted to bypass the Psalms in my reading of Scripture. Poetry required too much of a “Mary” mindset for this “Martha” gal. As I have matured, however, I have come to love and embrace the Biblical treasure trove that we call “Psalms.”
The Psalms are primarily poetry and need to be read as such. But they are packed with prayers and praises. They offer wisdom, guidance, and encouragement as they eloquently and vividly draw us to God. Like the Facebook Status, there is a Psalm for every human condition, challenge, mood, and mindset.
Try beginning and ending your day with the reading of one Psalm this fall. Accept this challenge and you will cover the entire book of 150 chapters in only 75 days — if you begin now, you will easily read through the Psalms by Thanksgiving.
If your Facebook Status is “discouraged” when you begin Psalm 5, you’ll be updating it to “filled with joy” when you finish it. If “needing forgiveness” is the topic of your status, you might identify with David’s Psalm 32–written as a testimony of God’s forgiveness following his sin with Bathsheba. If you are a mom, try praying Psalm 139 over your children. If your heart longs to praise the mighty God, but your mind just can’t find the words, try praying aloud passages found in Psalm 136, Psalm 100, or Psalm 23 back to God. Conviction, frustration, elation, tribulation, confession, jubilation — whatever “tion” describes your status, there is a Psalm for you!
Do keep in mind as you begin your journey that the Psalms are poetry. Read these one at a time. Allow the words to marinate in your mind and in your heart. Read the words in the morning and allow them to simmer in your thoughts throughout the day. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind what you have read, to quicken your heart to understanding, and your mind to grasp the deeper truth. Pray that the aroma will continually draw you to Jesus as you go about your day. You will be blessed as you realize that laundry, driving, gardening, exercising — all the seemingly mindless, gray, boring tasks of your day become vibrant and colorized as they are done with a heart and mind engaged and connected to Him who is able.
The Psalms do not offer a story line to be devoured, but deep truth that must be pondered and digested slowly. Dish yourself up a daily serving of Psalms this fall. I’m confident you’ll find it delicious food for your soul—sometimes sweet, occasionally bitter, but always healthy and power packed.
My seasonal Facebook Status for this fall:
“Laura is feasting on the Psalms and invites you to join her.”
