The Daily: Monday June 10, 2024

Daily Lectionary Reading: Psalm 108 (NRSV, The Message); 1 Samuel 16:14-23 (NRSV, The Message); Revelation 20:1-6 (NRSV, The Message)

Let our lord now command the servants who attend you to look for someone who is skillful in playing the lyre; and when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will feel better.
1 Samuel 16:16 (NRSV)

Not many of us can hire, or conscript, a lyrist to play for us everytime we are in poor spirits. It is helpful, however, to find the practices that will sooth our troubled minds and hearts. That may, for us, be music, a meditation practice, physical exercise, or finding the place outdoors that lifts our spirits. Sometimesour troubled spirits are inviting us into realigning with Divine Source.

The source of Saul's troubled spirit could have been some guilt that was a consequence of him acting counter to God's intention. It could have been a result of a mental health challenge he was facing. Maybe he was having trouble relating to those with whom he was in relationship

Saul may have benfited from someone who could have helped him discer, what the source of his troubled spirit could be. We live in a time when professional emotional, mental, and spiritual support is more accessible than ever.

What is troubling your spirit? How might you be intentional about discerning it's source? What practices do you engage to bring comfort?