If you’re feeling a little down in the mouth today, allow this Psalm to lift your head: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
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A while back, I produced a 30-second radio spot for a local radio station called The Blues Breaker. The spot was designed to chase away the Monday morning blues of those who felt down in the mouth. One of these 30-second Blues Breakers went like this: “A Psalmist who had the blues once said, ‘Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?’
Psalm 52:9
I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.
What has come to be known as the blues is a melancholic style of music with an African American folk origin, typically in a twelve-bar sequence. It developed in the rural slave communities of the southern USA towards the end of the 19th century. In those days, folks were forced to work the cotton fields in despair and dejection, longing to return to their homelands from where they were stolen by the slave traders. Understandably, this music was originally sad and depressive, hence the term the blues. However, today this style of music has developed into a legitimate genre.
It’s been suggested that many of the Psalms are songs of the blues. The Sons of Korah wailed to God that their souls were downcast. They had the blues. However, as with all the blues Psalms, there is always a glimmer hope… “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.”
If you’re feeling a little down in the mouth today, allow this Psalm to lift your head: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” A real blues breaker!
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You can track God’s plans for your life with Dudley Anderson, the author of Tracking the Will of God . This post is part of Dudley’s weekly GodTracker devotional series. You can also listen to his GodTracker podcast.
What is GodTracker?
GodTracker is a weekly e-mail Christian motivational thought, written by Dudley Anderson, based on the premise that God has a plan for our lives. His Word calls us to seek his plan by acknowledging him in all our ways and by tracking his purposes, in faith. Most of what you’ll read is based upon the author’s personal experience of tracking the plans of God.
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Originally from South Africa, Dudley Andersen now lives in the UK where he heads up Sure Reality Media and pastors Cornerstone Family Church in Worcestershire. He is married to Karen-Leigh and has two children, Kerryn and Ryan. Dudley has a background in radio and has worked for Radio Pulpit, Impact Radio and Christian Vision. Since 2005 he has produced diverse content for various Christian stations. He is the author of God-Tracking Through the Year and Overflowing Hope and writes a weekly e-mail devotional called, GodTracker. Dudley is also a worship leader.
