A Feast for our Souls

“So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. My soul is feasted as with marrow and fat, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think upon you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” (Psalm 63:4-8)

When meditating on this passage a few months ago, I was especially struck by the verse “my soul is feasted.” I think it’s a beautiful way to describe prayer. According to Webster’s dictionary, to feast is “to gratify or delight as with a feast.” Webster’s describes a feast as “a rich and elaborate meal” or “anything that gives pleasure because of its abundance or richness.”

Prayer is nourishment for our souls. We were created to love and serve God, so no created thing can ever satisfy our deepest inner longings. It is only when we are in communion with God through prayer that our thirst for Him is quenched and our souls are “feasted.”

When I “meet” God in prayer, I discover his merciful love for me. Knowing his love fills me with joy and hope. It is in prayer and the sacraments that God gives me the grace I need to face the trials of life and to trust in Him and his love for me.

Another verse that struck me is “my soul clings to you.” According to Webster’s, to cling is to “hold fast … as by embracing [or] entwining.” To me, then, clinging to God means to become one with Him, allowing Him to live and work in and through me. As St. Paul says, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal. 2:20)

The Power of Praise

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord is God! (Psalm 100)

Last month I attended the National Catholic Bible Conference, and it was a phenomenal weekend. The speakers were excellent and the talks were very inspiring. I think the workshop that touched me the most was Dr. Mary Healy’s talk on “The Power of Praise.”

Dr. Healy started by explaining the difference between praise and thanksgiving. We praise God for who he is, for his greatness and his faithfulness for instance. We thank him for what he does, for all the blessings he bestows on us. Both praise and thanksgiving are essential for our spiritual well-being, for that is what we were created for: to give praise and glory to God.

Praising God helps to put things in perspective. Our problems don’t seem so big when we recall who God is, the creator of the entire universe. He is bigger than any of our problems, and he always does what is best for us. He has a plan for each of our lives. He sees the big picture. We just need to trust that he knows what he’s doing.

I was especially touched when Dr. Healy said that praise “changes the spiritual landscape.” Praising God is so powerful that it actually makes the demons flee!

St. Paul exhorts us to praise and thank God continually, in all circumstances. If we make a habit of praising God in the good times, it will be much easier to do so in the rough times.

I have been trying to develop a habit of thankfulness in my own life, trying to find good in every situation. Like the song says, I’ve been trying to “accentuate the positive” and “eliminate the negative.”

Since the conference, I’ve also been trying to make a habit of praising God continually. When I pray, I try to start by praising God first, and I’m beginning to witness for myself the “power of praise.” Just in the last week, I’ve experienced several miracles which I attribute to praise and persistent prayer. Praise God, our creator and Lord!