Renewal

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, May 19th, 2024:
Pentecost Sunday

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Psalm 104

R. Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or R. Alleluia!

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great. O Lord, how manifold are your works! The earth is full of your creatures. 

R. Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
​or R. Alleluia!

When you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth. 

R. Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
​or R. Alleluia!

May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. 

R. Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
​or R. Alleluia!

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Do you listen to music while you run?
“No,” I say. 

So then, what do you do?
“Good question,” I say. 

On my next run, I think about this. 

And here is what I do:

I frantically try to pull apart the web of lies I’ve told myself throughout the day. I hear the words “you should have” or “next time you should,” and I shake my head to try to release the grip the word “should” has on me. 

I pray. I ask Jesus to run with me. To hold my hand. To just be with me. I pray for others: Family and friends who are struggling—family and friends who don’t know the Lord.

I think about what I’m going to eat. Then, I listen to the battle between the “you should eat healthy” voice and the “you should eat what you want” voice. The voices battle out convenience, cost, calories. I shake my head again. “Should” is gripping me tighter. 

I think about my incredible friends who juggle a thousand things, and comparison whispers in my ear. The web of lies I thought I was unraveling seems to be coiled up again. Comparison speaks a little louder. 

I ask myself if there is room for compassion. I take a breath. Maybe. 

Then I begin the familiar process of renouncing lies and spirits that are not from God. I speak them out loud and with conviction as I ignore the glances of people I pass. 

I take a deep breath. 

He is with me. 

Finally, a moment of peace. The voices are a little quieter. The battle in my mind has calmed. And I realize that I run for this moment. This peace that surpasses understanding. I run to survive another day. 

I am renewed by Your Spirit, O Lord.




​Lisa Matheson

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