The Psalmist of Psalm 42 describes spiritual depression, the common causes of it, and how to overcome it. We often experience this depression when undergoing adversity, when we experience apparent spiritual contradictions, when God seems far from us, and when people and Satan mock our faith. We can overcome this by expressing our thoughts and feelings, challenging their validity, remembering why we've trusted God in the past, and affirming His faithfulness.

When Jesus cries out on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me," is this him giving up his faith in God's plan? No! He is quoting a line from a Psalm of David, Psalm 22, and is actually declaring that God's plan has been fulfilled. This Psalm describes in detail the manner of Jesus' death centuries before it occurred, and the reason for his death. Jesus died so that we could have a relationship with God. Will we accept that free gift for ourselves?

As Christians, we will experience many blessings when we make a regular habit of meditating on God's Word. Meditation on God's Word involves taking time to learn, pondering, praying, and then acting on what we have learned. Throughout all of this we must also give God permission to lead us in our thoughts, actions, and lives.

In Psalm 19, David talks about how God reveals Himself. He talks about how God's awesomeness is revealed through nature, how His character is revealed through His Word, and how we can expect to find Him in His Word when we approach it with humility. Will we willingly seek God out and His will for our lives?

The Psalms often provide empathy and instruction, and in this case David writes about cleansing oneself of a guilty conscience. When he took Bathsheba and had her husband killed, his sin was called out by the prophet Nathan. In response to his crime and its revelation, David cried out to the Lord. Through his Psalms we learn that the only way to cleanse a guilty conscience is to sincerely seek out God's grace.

How can we know that the Bible is the unique and powerful Word of God? One way is by looking at the testimonies of the figures in the Bible. Psalm 16 details David's reflections over how making God the ruler of his life has changed him, his perceptions of others, and how this decision will continue to impact his future. When we go against the grain and choose to put God first, we can look forward to an amazing and transformational life.