Saturate in the Psalms.
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” - Psalm 119:105
My prayer for myself and every Christ follower is that we would cherish all of God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation, in its entirety. However, my appeal to you today, dear brothers and sisters, is that you would saturate yourself in the Psalms. The book of Psalms is what we call wisdom literature consisting mainly of poems and hymns (songs). For hundreds of years Christians have found joy, comfort, and peace from the words of the various psalmists. Psalm 23 comes to mind when one is suffering or dealing with the loss of a loved one. Psalm 103 stands as a pillar of encouragement reminding us that God forgives us of all of our sin. The Psalms have been instrumental in the life of God’s people and rightfully so, they should be!
Dear Christian, allow me to be direct. You need to read the Psalms. You need to saturate in them! The word saturate means to be thoroughly soaked so that no more can be absorbed! There is a reason why the Psalms are the most quoted Old Testament book in the New Testament being quoted 68 times! Isaiah is the second most quoted OT book being quoted 55 times. Jesus would quote and sing the Psalms numerous times all throughout His ministry! The MOST quoted OT verse in the NT is Psalm 110:1 “The Lord says to my lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.’” Friends, if the Psalms were this important to Jesus and to the early disciples, then it should be that way for us as well!
Personally, I have grown to love the Psalms. I find myself in all seasons of life and in different ways being encouraged and equipped from the Psalms. When I go through a season of despair I find comfort in the Psalms of David and connect with his seasons of despair! The Psalms of praise have had such a way of bringing deep joy to my soul! Oh that we would “Praise the Lord! Praise Him in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens! Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness” (Psalm 150:1-2).
Years ago I learned a 31 day reading plan through the Psalms that I want to encourage you to read through as well. It's simple and can be done by anyone! Day 1: Read Psalm 1, 31, 61, 91, 121. Day 2: Psalm 2, 32, 62, 92, 122. Each day you will read 5 psalms in the span of 30 days, except for Psalm 119, read that on day 31. This 31 day reading plan will take you through all of the Psalms. I hope and pray that the Lord will bless your time in Psalms and that you would drink richly the hope and glory of Jesus Christ.
- Brother Travis
