"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10
I love the Book of Psalms! Every human emotion and struggle is recorded there in honest conversations with God. We find countless reminders of God’s continual presence in the Psalms as well. It’s truly a book that we can use in our day-to-day lives. This year, I am taking up the challenge to read and pray through a Psalm each day, and I hope you will too.
This week, I wanted to highlight a word that is found in the Psalms after some sections and verses in the right margin. It’s the word Sehlah, which means "pause" or "interlude." The word Sehlah signifies a musical pause or a moment to reflect on what has been said or sung. In our lives, we need these Sehlah moments too, don’t we? We need pauses that allow us to catch our breath, reflect on our journey, and most importantly, to connect with God.
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, amidst the noise of responsibilities, expectations, and deadlines, there is a call to embrace Sehlah moments – moments of intentional pause, moments of stillness in the presence of our God. As you take time to be still with God this week and pause, I invite you to pray some verses from the Psalms as you talk with God, openly and honestly. Here are a few suggestions of verses from the Psalms that can use as you pray.
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:7
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. Psalm 42:1
How lovely is your dwelling-place, Lord Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Psalm 84:1
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2