As part of Lent, I am going to be posting a Psalm/scripture and a very brief comment. The main focus will be to get us to put these holy words on our lips and pray them to God. Hopefully, this simple act will help us understand more about the one who loves us and cares for us and is with us--regardless of the circumstances.

Clear my name, God; stick up for me against these loveless, immoral people. Get me out of here, away from these lying degenerates.

I counted on you, God. Why did you walk out on me? Why am I pacing the floor, wringing my hands over these outrageous people?

Give me your lantern and compass, give me a map, So I can find my way to the sacred mountain, to the place of your presence,

To enter the place of worship, meet my exuberant God, Sing my thanks with a harp, magnificent God, my God.

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God - soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.

For this reading, Psalm 43, I encourage you to actually say these words out loud--have you ever prayed something like this before? It is a short prayer in three parts.

Part 1, the first two verses, relate to the pain, despair, and isolation the person shares with God. Basically, the pray-er is calling God out, letting Him know that He hasn't been paying attention to the pray-er, and it has left him feeling abandoned. Part 2 is a transition. Here the pray-er is asking God for help, but the request isn't frantic, desperate. The pray-er asks for a map, and there is a confidence that comes through the verse that speaks of hope and trust. The short psalm concludes with exultation--as if the pray-er had said those words in the first two verses and then the Holy Spirit reminded him of who God is--the Lord Jehovah, the one who brought everything into being, and the one who says, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." That is our God.