"Hear my cry, O God Listen to my prayer..." Psalm 61:1 ESV Throughout May we were exploring Psalm 61. It has been described as ‘The Psalm of the Exile’. It is set, like several others we have looked at, at a time when David is fleeing from people who are after his life. He is far way from everyone and everything that he loves. He cries out to his God from ‘the end of the earth’, and remembering how God has been with him in the past gives him faith that his cries will be liste

For those of us with chronic illness, it can be a challenge to know our worth. Identity often includes achievements, a job or a role. When we have to give up everything we used to do, it can be a painful grieving process. It can also open us up to judgement from society, which values productivity over being, and also over well-being. Society equates productivity, success, achievement and independence with worth. People with no visible productivity are often seen as useless an

"Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck." Psalm 69:1 ESV Recently we have been exploring Psalm 69 together. This psalm sees David sinking ‘up to his neck’ in trouble and wondering when (and if…) God might turn up and help! When reading the psalm, it is not difficult to imagine the pain David must have been feeling. Standing up for what is good and true has resulted in betrayal, ruin and ridicule from near and far. Where is God in all this? One thing we appre

“I will ponder the way that is blameless"... from 102:2 (ESV) During February we were exploring Psalm 101 together. This psalm gives us a fascinating look at what kingship looks like, with much to say to us today about good and wise leadership of any form. David immediately sets out the issues that are the most important to him. Looking through different translations of Verse 1 we find these are displayed in words such as mercy, grace, love, kindness and justice. God’s ju

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5 (ESV) During January we were exploring Psalm 23 together. Undoubtedly one of the most well-known psalms, it has been a source of comfort and inspiration to its readers and hearers throughout the centuries. One of the interesting things we noticed straight away is in the very first few words. The Lord, in other psalms, is described as ‘the king of glory’

Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! Psalm 24:8 This month we were exploring Psalm 24 together. It begins by reminding us of how our remarkable world and everything and everyone it contains was imagined and created by our loving Lord. John 1:3 (ESV) reminds us, ‘All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.’ We spent some time thinking about this- the sound of waterfalls, the feel and leav

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Psalm 8:1 (ESV) During November we were exploring Psalm 8 together. It is a vibrant psalm of praise considering creation and humanity's place in it. David considers the wonders of the vast universe he can see in the night sky- distant stars and celestial objects out in space. He then wonders at how the creator of all around him can take such an interest in humanity- su

Daily reflections on the Titles of Jesus written by members of the YouBelong leadership team

“Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Throughout October we were exploring Psalm 6 together, another psalm attributed to David, and another psalm which finds him troubled in every aspect of his life- mind, body and spirit. He talks of his deep sorrow and his weariness, begging for God to rescue him from his troubles. Our attention was drawn to the different words various translations gave to de

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be...