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PRAYING THE PSALMS: A 15-Week Seasonal Study by Debra Evans

Get to know the Psalms better and increase your prayer literacy this season: Read through the entire book, from start to finish, over the next fifteen weeks. Make notes in your Bible as you go, adding subtitles, observing themes, and highlighting favorite passages. At various times each day, also consider and reflect on smaller portions of the Psalms. Read until something leaps out at you or seems to speak right to your heart or sounds especially relevant. Whether this happens with one verse or an entire psalm, go ahead and write the section out, read it aloud, or silently go over it several times. During this study, start creating a personal list of psalms, sections of psalms, or psalm verses you can't imagine living without. Get to know these psalms well, committing to memory the portions you want to most frequently call to mind as prayers. As time goes by, this list will likely become much longer. To pray the psalms, bring them into your conversations with God about your lifeyour hopes, dreams, fears, losses, desires, struggles, and joysthroughout your daily experience. Personalize the portions that best express the cry or condition of your heart, the burden you feel for someone or something, the offering of praise you are being drawn by the Spirit to offer, and your thanks to God. In approaching the Psalms as your personal prayerbook, you will find your private prayer enriched with the same words Jesus once prayed, and now prays with you by His Spirit. For example, throughout the day use passages like these,during morning prayer, when encountering spiritual warfare, for an attitude adjustment, and much moreto direct your heart and mind toward God: Psalm 5:3, NIV In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; !in the morning I lay my requests before you !and wait in expectation. Psalm 59:16, ESV But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.!For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. Psalm 130:5-6, NIV I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the ! Lord !more than watchmen wait for the morning, !more than watchmen wait for the morning. Psalm 40:16-17, ESV May all who seek you !rejoice and be glad in you; !may those who love your salvation! say continually, Great is the Lord! As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me.! You are my help and my deliverer; !do not delay, O my God! As you continue this study, notice the many kinds of prayers expressed by the psalmists and the actions associated with each type. Use the following chart and examples of prayer categories to boost your own prayer literacy and language, adding notes and new ideas. In the months ahead, when you are facing a crisis, transition, temptation, stress, discouragement, or other difficulty, run for the Psalms; when you are celebrating life, exulting in God's love, encountering the delight of Christ's presence, or resting after work, revel in the Psalms. Wear out the pages . . . bring Kleenex . . . move in, stay awhile, find safe haven. Turn to your favorites over and over and over again. Do this, and twenty or thirty years from now, you will find your own history written there.

Types Of Prayers And Actions in the Psalms


LOOK: REACH/WAIT/LISTEN Seeking prayer (eyes, ears) LEARN: DISCOVER/ STUDY/UNDERSTAND Finding prayer CONSIDER: RECALL/REFLECT/DIGEST Nourishing prayer CONNECT: LOVE/GIVE/JOIN Adoring prayer (heart) ASK: CALL/PERSIST/APPEAL Requesting prayer (mind) ANSWER: REPLY/ACKNOWLEDGE/EXPRESS Responding prayer (mouth) RECOGNIZE: IDENTIFY/ACCEPT/ADMIT Confessing prayer YIELD: SURRENDER/UNLOAD/LET GO Relinquishing prayer CHANGE: AFFIRM/LEAVE/TURN AWAY FROM Repenting prayer STAND: WATCH/OPPOSE/DEFEAT Resisting prayer APPRECIATE: THANK/PRAISE/BLESS Thanksgiving prayer SHARE: MEET/ENGAGE/DISTRIBUTE Gathering prayer TRUST: CEASE/ABSTAIN/ENJOY Resting prayer (body)

Categories and Aspects of Prayer in the Psalms RELATIONSHIP


Awareness Observing Acquaintance Encountering Familiarity Experiencing Reliance Connecting Partnership Sharing Intimacy Knowing

RESTORATION
Instruction Understanding Confession Agreeing Resistance Overcoming Intercession Asking Supplication Appealing Rest Trusting

RECOGNITION
Thanksgiving Valuing Praise Honoring Hallowing Blessing Exaltation Revering

RELATIONSHIP
AWARENESS: OBSERVING
The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall!and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand!and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways!and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. (Ps. 145:13-19, NIV)

ACQUAINTANCE: ENCOUNTERING
O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down!and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. (Ps. 139:1-6, NIV)

FAMILIARITY: EXPERIENCING
God keeps an eye on his friends, his ears pick up every moan and groan. God won't put up with rebels; he'll cull them from the pack. Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you. If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there; if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath. Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time. (Ps. 34:15-19, MSG)

RELIANCE: CONNECTING
I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. I live and breathe God; if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy: Join me in spreading the news; together let's get the word out. God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears. Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him. When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot. God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray. Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and seehow good God is. Blessed are you who run to him. (Ps. 34:1-8, MSG)

PARTNERSHIP: SHARING
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise !because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Ps. 8, NIV)

INTIMACY: KNOWING
The Lord is my light and my salvationwhom shall I fear? ! The Lord is the stronghold of my lifeof whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, !when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besieges me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: ! that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, !to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. (Ps. 27:1-6, NIV)

RESTORATION
INSTRUCTION: UNDERSTANDING The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Dont let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt!and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth!and the meditation of my heart!be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Ps. 19:7-14, NIV)

CONFESSION: AGREEING
Generous in loveGod, give grace! Huge in mercywipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry. I know how bad I've been; my sins are staring me down. You're the One I've violated, and you've seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil. You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair. I've been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. What you're after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life. (Ps. 51:1-6, MSG)

RESISTANCE: OVERCOMING
As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the Lord is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God, The God who girds me with strength And makes my way blameless? He makes my feet like hinds feet, And sets me upon my high places. He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great. You enlarge my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped. (Ps. 18:30-36, NASB)

INTERCESSION: ASKING
To you I call, O Lord my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me. !For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help,!as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil,!who speak cordially with their neighbors!but harbor malice in their hearts. Repay them for their deeds!and for their evil work;!repay them for what their hands have done and bring back upon them what they deserve. Since they show no regard for the works of the Lord and what his hands have done, !he will tear them down!and never build them up again. Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. !My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever. (Ps. 28, NIV)

SUPPLICATION: APPEALING
Help, Godthe bottom has fallen out of my life! Master, hear my cry for help! Listen hard! Open your ears! Listen to my cries for mercy. If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that's why you're worshiped. I pray to Godmy life a prayerand wait for what he'll say and do.

My life's on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning. (Ps. 130:1-6, MSG)

REST: TRUSTING
God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. (Ps. 23, MSG)

RECOGNITION
THANKSGIVING: VALUING
Hallelujah! Thank God! Pray to him by name! Tell everyone you meet what he has done! Sing him songs, belt out hymns, translate his wonders into music! Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs, who seek God. Live a happy life! Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence. Remember the world of wonders he has made, his miracles, and the verdicts he's renderedO seed of Abraham, his servant, O child of Jacob, his chosen. (Ps. 105:1-6, MSG)

PRAISING: HONORING
Hallelujah! You who serve God, praise God! Just to speak his name is praise! Just to remember God is a blessingnow and tomorrow and always. From east to west, from dawn to dusk, keep lifting all your praises to God! God is higher than anything and anyone, outshining everything you can see in the skies. Who can compare with God, our God, so majestically enthroned, Surveying his magnificent heavens and earth? He picks up the poor from out of the dirt, rescues the wretched who've been thrown out with the trash, Seats them among the honored guests, a place of honor among the brightest and best. He gives childless couples a family, gives them joy as the parents of children. Hallelujah! (Ps. 113, MSG)

HALLOWING: BLESSING
O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I'll bless his holy name! O my soul, bless God, don't forget a single blessing! He forgives your sinsevery one. He heals your diseasesevery one.

He redeems you from hellsaves your life! He crowns you with love and mercya paradise crown. He wraps you in goodnessbeauty eternal. He renews your youthyou're always young in his presence. God has set his throne in heaven; he rules over us all. He's the King! So bless God, you angels, ready and able to fly at his bidding, quick to hear and do what he says. Bless God, all you armies of angels, alert to respond to whatever he wills. Bless God, all creatures, wherever you areeverything and everyone made by God. And you, O my soul, bless God! (Ps. 103:1-5, 19-22, MSG)

EXALTATION: REVERING
The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! The King in his might loves justice.! You have established equity;!you have executed justice!and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! (Ps. 99:1-5, ESV)

2012 Debra Evans All rights reserved.

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