Throughout the centuries, the Psalms have been understood to be, among other things, an effective tool for prayer. On a personal note, it is no exaggeration to say that praying from the Psalms has been the single most transformative practice in my own spiritual formation. A couple of scholars, Brian Daley and Paul Kolbet, write:
“What continually amazed the early Christian interpreters of the Psalms, in fact, was the apparently universal ability of these poems to transform the hearts and minds of the people who regularly prayed them.”
What follows is an attempt at writing the simplest guide to praying from the Psalms that I could possibly write.
Here you go:
1. First, pick a Psalm, any Psalm.
Any Psalm will do, but might I suggest one the following?: 8, 13, 19, 23, 28, 37, 46, 51, 79, 100, 103, 121, 139.
2. Next, read the Psalm carefully, very slowly, and if possible, aloud.
3. Now, take one thought from the Psalm, from one line, and use it as a theme for prayer for the day. Pray from this thought simply and boldly several times throughout the day. In fact, as often as you think of it, pray it.
4. Do this again tomorrow, perhaps choosing a different line from the same Psalm. Continue this pattern for days, weeks, months, and years. Do not expect anything dramatic to happen. Don’t try to judge effectiveness for many many years. Let it have its cumulative effect. But, know that you will not regret it. The words will seep into your soul.
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An Example:
From Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
A (very) simple sample prayer based on the first line:
“Lord, I’m prone to look elsewhere for help. That is useless. So, fix my eyes on you today.”