If you've followed this blog for very long, you may have read previous posts where I've talked about some of my favorite books on prayer (A Praying Life and Praying God's Word for Your Husband). You also may have picked up on my love of the Psalms.
So you can imagine how delighted I was when a recent challenge from 40 Ways to Grow Closer to God involved praying a Psalm.
I love the idea of praying God's Word back to Him. There's something powerful about repeating inspired words back to our Holy God. I can't help but believe that it makes Him smile.
If praying God's Word is a new concept for you, I think Psalms is a perfect place to start. In most cases, the psalms are prayers that were sung. And some of them are so very personal, you almost don't need to change the words.
I'll give you an example from a familiar Psalm....Psalm 23. If you wanted to pray Psalm 23, you might say something like this.
Father, you are my shepherd. With you as my shepherd, I know I have everything I need. Thank you for providing ways for me to rest and for restoring my soul. Please continue to lead me in paths of righteousness for Your fame and glory.
Get the idea?
Now, the above example assumes that you are in a pretty good place when you start your prayer. But we all know...well...here's another version.
Father, I know you are my shepherd, but there are so many things we need right now. Please provide. I am so tired, Lord. If I have another day like yesterday, I won't make it past breakfast. Please lead me to places of rest. A few green pastures and quiet streams would be such a blessing after the roller coaster ride I've been on lately. My soul is wrung out. I cannot fix it on my own. Abba, you're the only one who can restore my soul. Right now, I don't know what to do, or where to turn. Please lead me. Show me the right path, not so I can boast, but so you will be glorified.
See the difference?
Regardless of whether you're relaxing by a cool stream in a soft, grassy field, or fighting for each step through a dark valley, try praying a few Psalms today. You might even consider getting really bold and journaling your version.
We're not going for literary genius here! There's not a right or wrong way to do this. When you first start praying God's Word, it's okay to "cut & paste" - just pray the words exactly as you read them. Over time, you'll naturally get more creative with the method.
The idea is to communicate with God. Prayer isn't talking (or shouting) at Him. It's opening ourselves up to what He wants to do. It's being still long enough to hear His soft voice. It's paying attention long enough to notice when He responds.
When you do, would you mind coming back here and sharing your experience with all of us? You could share the Psalm, or you could share why you chose it, the actual words you prayed, or how God has answered.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit! (That's from Philippians 4:23)
A few weeks ago, I asked what you were planning to do to grow closer to God this summer. Remember? (If not, click here!)
I know that many of us participate in Bible studies during the school year, but we usually take the summer off. Which makes perfect sense. It’s hard to schedule group sessions around vacations and swim lessons.
What doesn’t make sense?
Taking the summer off.
We aren’t in first grade anymore. We’re supposed to be ever growing, ever learning, ever maturing.
Go ahead and take the summer off from scheduled, group study. But please don’t put your Bible and journal up on a shelf with plans to dig them back out in September.
We must remember that we are in a war. Our enemy doesn’t take summers off. For whole battalions to decide they aren’t going to fight for three months out of the year reveals a serious lack of spiritual maturity on the part of people who should be battle hardened warriors.
Make no mistake about it...if you aren't growing closer to God then you're moving away from Him. The enemy will gladly watch you drift and then he'll unleash every obstacle in his arsenal to be sure you never get as close as you once were.
Now that I’ve gotten all up in your business, let me share with you a resource you might want to consider. You could think of it as a summer refresher course.
Depending on where you are in your walk with the Lord, it might sound like a remedial class.
Trust me, it’s not.
A dear friend of mine (Lori Roeleveld of Deeper with Jesus in Rhode Island), threw out a call to take “The God Challenge” this summer by reading 40 Ways to Get Closer to God written by Jerry (Chip) MacGregor with Keri Wyatt Kent.
It sounded perfect. Maybe a little lighter than what I’d been planning, but hey, it’s summer.
Did I mention that this is not a remedial class?
Good.
It’s not that these challenges are hard. If you’ve been following God for any length of time, you may even read the challenge for that day and think, “Seriously? That’s it? I do that all the time.” I’ve had a few of those days.
To my surprise and embarrassment, when I attempt the challenge I often discover that I needed some work on that particular discipline after all. Consider me Gibbs slapped by God!
I’m not going to give it all away, but I started this in late May. It’s June 11th and I’m not even up to Day 10. I’m trying not to read or jump ahead until I have actually done, or at least planned when I will do, each activity. I'm taking my time because I don't want to just read a book about getting closer to God.
I want to actually get closer to God.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll share with you some of my adventures, what I’m learning, and what God is showing me about how amazing He is. If you’d like to jump in and join the fun, that would be fantastic. (Please send me a shout out in the comments!)
Whether you choose to join in on #TheGodChallenge (our Twitter hashtag) or not, please do something. Read the New Testament. Pray for each member of your family every day. Read the Psalms slowly (I did that last year - loved it!).
Your enemy is not taking the summer off. You shouldn’t either.
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The Joy Dare continues...
3 Gifts Painted ~ Roses painted the perfect pink; baby faces painted in watermelon juice; smiles painted on the faces of friends reunited
