I’ve been studying the Psalms a lot lately, especially with emphasis on how they guide us in our own prayer lives. I came across this interesting quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
“The only way to understand the Psalms is on your knees, the whole congregation praying the words of the psalms with all its strength.”
This quote challenged me. Maybe I should pray the psalms. However, I didn’t want to just read them in prayer. So, I’ve started putting their sentiments into my own words and writing them down in a notebook. It really is awesome. I’ll show you a sample and then encourage you to do the same.
Psalm 1 Prayer
Oh God,
Let me not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Let me not stand in the way of sinners,
Let me not sit in the seat of scoffers.
I delight in your law, o Lord.
I meditate on it day and night.
Enlighten my mind with it that I may
walk in Your counsel,
stand in Your way,
sit in You.
Father, bless me by Your word that I may have abundant life as a tree planted by many waters.
Hold me up and let me stand in judgment, let me be in Your congregation.
Keep me, o Lord, establish my way and do not let it perish as the way of the wicked.
Amen
Try this sometime. Let me know how it goes.
