How do we pray? What words should we use? How can we speak in worship? From the very beginning, believers in Jesus have learned about prayer and worship from the book of Psalms.
This is not just a reading plan; this is a reading and prayer plan. We are encouraging everyone to commit to praying with one Psalm every day. Take time to read the passage and reflect, then spend some time praying using the words and thoughts from the Psalm.
In praying through the Psalms, we learn that God hears us in our joys, sorrows, hopes, fears and even our anger. Some Psalms will feel familiar and comforting; others will stretch us as we pray with words that are different from what we normally use.
Click here to download a printable copy of the reading plan. We will also be posting the scheduled readings on Facebook and Instagram. There are also some good books about praying through the Psalms. One such book is Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer by Eugene Peterson. We will share more as we move through the Psalms.
Here’s a basic outline on how to do a spiritual reading (Lectio Divina) of Scripture:
- 2 minutes of silence
- Read slowly
- Focus on where the Holy Spirit is drawing your attention
- Write down your thoughts, questions and what God speaks to you.
- Pray / reflect in silence
If you struggle to understand a passage, reading other translations or paraphrases can help. Some can be found at www.bible.com
We produced a video on how to read for a Gospel of Mark we did before. It gives some tips and thoughts on reading the Bible and listening for God’s voice. Check it out below.