Interacting with Scripture in a Personal Way

 

 

 

“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

How long will you assault me?

Would all of you throw me down— this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place; they take delight in lies.

With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie.

If weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.

Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them. One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard:

“Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;

and, “You reward everyone according to what they have done.””

Psalm 62:1-12 NIV

 

Psalm 62 has been one of my go to meditation passages since my middle school and high school days. It has been treasured deeply in my heart for decades now. What I absolutely love about God’s Word is that it never comes back void – it can be rehearsed, memorized and clung to over and over again and it is always alive and actively at work in my heart and mind, never empty – always full.

 

What has been very powerful to me in my quiet time as of this year has been taking time to dig deeper into passages that have meant a great deal to me for years. Studying them in different translations, reading up on what was happening behind the scenes, in that historic moment, as well as taking note of any repetitive language, and every promise. I also seek out and read up on what scholars have grown to understand and interpret from the passages. Then – this is my new favorite part, I spend time in His presence, meditating on each verse and paraphrasing it. Writing it back to Him in my own words. Please note that my written paraphrase of God’s Word never replaces the sovereign written authority of the Word, I only use this as a personal and intimate way to practice being still before Him, to guide my quiet time seeking Him, and asking for greater understanding of how His Word applies to me and the texture of my life… then I listen for His voice verse by verse and write.

 

In my current season of life this passage, especially written in my own words, has been a powerful and protective prayer. This has been so transformative in my quiet time that I wanted to share it with you in a super practical way so that you could give it a try if you are longing for a more personal interaction with Scripture.

 

This is my paraphrase of Psalm 62:

 

God Almighty, the innermost part of my being quietly stills and waits for only You.

You save me.

You faithfully sustain me and are a solid place for me to find my footing.

You save me.

You are a safe, strong shelter and presence around me.

I will not be be shaken.

My well-being will not be disturbed.

How long will I be attacked and misperceived?

I am weak and fragile.

Their intention is to harm me,

They speak well of me and honor me with their words,

but in their hearts they despise me and desire for me to fall.

Even so, the deepest, fully known and fully accepted part of my being finds rest in you.

You are my hope

You alone are my safe and steady hiding place – solid ground to stand on.

You are my salvation.

You are strength that surrounds me.

I will not be shaken.

My security in you will not be unsettled.

The eternal state of my being and

my honor, my character and my reputation depend on you.

You are my strong stability, my safe place.

You are trustworthy at all times.

You are a safe and protective place for all people,

A trustworthy vault where we can cast our deepest emotions and most frequent thoughts

Every detail that preoccupies our hearts and minds is protected and kept safe in you.

Frail or mighty, poor or wealthy

All people when weighed in the balance

are not as powerful or as threatening as they appear.

I will not trust in man, or their methods

I will not set my heart, trust, hope or confidence in man.

For you, God most High have spoken

I will tune my ear to you.

I will place all my trust in the promises you have spoken.

I can count on these things to always be true.

You are strong and all power belongs to you.

(Stronger than any human, stronger than any circumstance, stronger than I can even imagine or begin to comprehend.

Your strength is perfect.)

You are loving and your love never fails.

(Loving when I fail, loving when I succeed, loving when I feel unlovable and unlovely, loving when I know my value to you, loving when I sin, loving when I obey. Your love for me is unwavering. Your love never fails.)

Every person will experience your righteousness and your reward.

Each of us are fully known and transparently perceived by you.

You will reward us for how we have live our lives.

My greatest prayer is that you would find me faithfully trusting only in you.

Would your presence, protection and salvation be what defines my person, and pursuit of you.

Would my life be a narrative to the world,

magnifying your spoken Word.

You are strong and all power belongs to you.

You are loving and your love never fails.

 

This practice has been a beautiful guide for my quiet time as I practically rest and sit in His presence. It has also powerfully influenced my prayer time and grown a deeper understanding of the daily inner & outer-workings of my salvation and my Savior.

 

Why don’t you give it a try? I would love to see your paraphrase of one of your favorite passages!

 

Let’s grow together!

Rachel Anne

 

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