March 9

Psalm 81

Link to Bible Verses: Psalm 81

Discernment: requires prayer and time, sometimes a lot of time

Unless one is inclined to believe the Bible is a literal testament of the history of humanity and our journey with God, discernment may be a good companion to bring along when reading scripture. In fact, discernment is woven throughout the scriptures as a way of listening to and engaging with both God and Christ. Jesus himself models discernment; think of all the times he separates himself to listen to God through prayer. I struggle to see how those times were not times of discernment.

I love these lines from Psalm 81:8: “In distress you called and I rescued you; unseen, I spoke to you in thunder.” Discernment is what helps us see when we are rescued, often in hindsight. Discernment allows us to be open to God’s voice in thunder. Discernment encourages us to open our eyes, ears, and hearts to experiences of the sacred in our everyday lives. But we need to practice discernment in order to recalibrate our senses and soul to a different register. Imagine the rewards, though: hearing the voice of God in thunder! Discernment opens gates and shifts our reality in the best of ways.

Thank you to Linda Land-Closson for writing our 2026 Lenten Devotions.