Susan LaffertyBenedict of Nursia (480-547) first formed his Rule for the abbey he served in Monte Cassino, Italy.
Last year I grew curious about what this guide contained. And one particular practice caught my attention. It meant the monks of his monasteries lived on a steady diet of Psalms.
They repeated the entire book each week.
Tucked in the setting of another king’s ebbing allegiance. And his discernible drift from God.
I see it.
The verse often quoted.
Serving as a clarion call for holy commitment. Wholehearted devotion. To the worship and ways of the Lord God Almighty.
Here it sits. Right in the middle of Hanani’s prophetic message. Calling out King Asa.
The weight on my heart is not a frantic, anxious weight. It’s the weight of prayer. Prayer for my dear friend who is suffering. She wades through deep waters in this season. Crushed.
Crying out to You the hurt. The upheaval. The unknown.
And yet, even there she speaks of Your faithfulness. Even there, Your word sustains. Daily manna, she says. And ponders what the God of the impossible can do.
“If we believe He is who He says He is, how can we not hope?”