Psalm 40:1-11

I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
    out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
    making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
    and put their trust in the Lord.

Blessed is the man who makes
    the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
    to those who go astray after a lie!
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
    your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
    none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
    yet they are more than can be told.

In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
    but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
    you have not required.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
    in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
I delight to do your will, O my God;
    your law is within my heart.”

I have told the glad news of deliverance
    in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
    as you know, O Lord.
I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
    I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
    from the great congregation.

As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
    your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
    ever preserve me!

We all have times of transition in our lives. I like to think of these times as being liminal space when the former thing has not yet passed away and the new has not yet completely arrived.

This week I am reading Psalm 40 through the eyes of one who is living in liminal space. My current AmeriCorps VISTA job is coming to an end today and within a month I will be beginning another service year in a new location. I am also going through the candidacy process to become a Licensed Local Pastor.

As I read through this Psalm, I find hope and encouragement for living into the uncertainty and changes. When we follow the law of God that is written on our hearts and minds these times of transition can be full of excitement and possibility for the work God is doing through us in the world. God will put a new song in our mouths as we lean into this work and into the times of change and transition.

Prayer for Reflection

Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 40:1-11
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-42