Finding your voice in the Psalms

The Psalms are a collection of prayers that obviously availed before the Lord, and He wanted to be recorded for all time.  I believe they are one of the most important ways to learn how to pray.  Even our Lord Jesus prayed the Psalms and they were used to not only fulfill the messianic prophecies concerning Jesus, but I believe used to encourage Jesus while He was on earth in facing trials and temptations (“for He was tempted in all ways yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15)).  I believe Jesus, even as He quoted Psalm 22 from the Cross in the anguish of being separated from the Father when He became sin on our behalf, received strength in the rest of that Psalm and in how it ends (see v.21b-31).

With half of the Psalms written by David, we should be reminded as we read the transparency of his Psalms that this is what the Lord looks for in us as well.  David was said to be a man after His own heart, and we can see this most clearly as he pours out his heart to the Lord God Almighty.

We have been given this incredible resource and treasure in the Psalms.  The Psalms have been used over and over, to articulate what often is difficult to articulate in prayer during times of trail and hardship as well as expand our vocabulary of thanksgiving and praise in times of victory and answered prayer.

Find your voice in the Psalms.  The more you do, the more it will be a part of you and your prayers intertwining with the Word of God.  The more it will build your own faith up, that You are being heard by the Lord, even in the valley of the shadow of death, even in the times of great betrayal, loneliness and deferred hope.

For the next month may I offer you a challenge?  Would you read five Psalms a day, but not just read them, pray them out loud and make them your prayers.  Maybe take three in the morning, one at lunchtime and one in the evening (see Psalm 55:17).  Or however you want to do it....

Personalize them, take a moment and by the power of the Holy Spirit lift them up as your own heart felt prayer in Jesus Name.

Include your family on some of the readings, perhaps when you read them in the evening.  Or read a psalm as a family before your meal each evening (if it’s a shorter Psalm J).

As you read them...

 Declare the praises of God through the Psalms. 

Make confession through the Psalms.

Make known what has been troubling you through the Psalms.

Understand when the Psalms talks about ones enemies that it still applies to you and I because we know the enemy is spiritual and so pray it that way (Ephesians 6:12).

Claim the promises revealed by faith as you pray through the Psalms

Pray the truths of the Psalms as you read them not only over you, but over your family in Jesus Name.

Let’s believe the Father that these prayers will truly be answered, and let’s expect to encounter Him through this time of praying the Psalms over the next thirty days or so.

As you read them, perhaps a certain name or situation will come to mind as you read a particular Psalm.  Write it down in your journal with that Psalm number next to it, and believe God for His answer in that person’s life or in that situation.  Again let the Holy Spirit bring life into the Psalms as you read them.  Read them with unction, with energy and conviction.   Where it says “He” about the Lord, say “You” as you address Him personally coming before His Throne of Grace. Pray them out loud.  Pause as you read them to reflect on the words you are saying to the Father.

Let’s begin....

Next time we’ll go into the New Testament teaching on prayer...