Get Real, David

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

How is David feeling in this Psalm? Have you ever felt this way?

Is He ashamed of the way he feels? Explain your answer.

What does the word hope mean?

What does it look like to put your hope in God?

What does it mean to praise him? What are some different ways people praise God?

What does savior mean? Is it just Jesus, or is it more? (Remember, David was on earth way before Jesus)

GET REAL:

Spend time meditating on this verse.

Practice emphasized meditation: Read a section of the verse, then stress different parts of it.

For example, WHY are you downcast, O my soul? (Pause)

Why ARE you downcast, O my soul?

Why are YOU downcast, O my soul?

Continue to finish the pattern stressing each word as you say the verse. Then, take time to

pause, for a while in silence, after each one. In silence, we can sometimes hear God's voice, but this too is a practice. Ask yourself questions if you feel like it. If you hear nothing doing this exercise, don't give up, try it again in the future. You can do this with any verse at any time! Sometimes it takes time, and some days our hearts/minds/spirit's don't give us anything. That's okay:)

I find that prayer/meditation is more listening than speaking.

*If you have time, spend time praising/connecting with God in your own way.