In light of that experience, and the many comments from others on how helpful it had been to them, I have decided to adopt this practice as a weekly discipline for my own benefit—both to let the Psalms shape my praying and to offer up, in that context, what I and those to whom I minister are facing and feeling week by week.
In doing so,I am fully aware that I am only entering in on a historic practice, followed by God’s people in every age. My hope is simply to learn myself from the discipline how to better enter into God’s sovereign presence and open myself as I am to both listen and speak.
Week of January 4 (Second after Christmas) - Psalm 147:12-20
The air is chilling as a New Year begins, God. The northern atmosphere where we live is part of that, of course, but there is more to the chill than that. A world in turmoil sends shivers down all our spines. Our sagging economy and the growing numbers of unemployed are cascading into a societal turmoil unlike anything we have seen in recent years.
To many the psalmist's call to "Praise the Lord," who "strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your children within you" may therefore seem unrealistic. Yet read in context his reasons for turning to you are clear: not to hide from our circumstance but recognize your sovereignty and trust in your promises to your people in all the chaos surrounding
Save us, dear God, from the enduring chill of your cold--a far greater danger to us than anything we are now facing.. Bring us rather out of the temporary chills of our own making into the warmth and light which flow forever from your throne.
Week of January 11 (First after Epiphany) - Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14
In this season of light, Dear Lord, help us with King David to reflect the light that comes only from you. Save us from every presumption that we in ourselves hold the keys to life--whether by race, gender, education, intelligence, good fortune, or whatever else we often hide behind to mask our weakness.
Focus our minds and train our hearts on your righteousness and your justice. Let other nations and peoples see in us fresh manifestations of your glory when we, in your name, have pity on the weak and needy and redeem their life from oppression and violence.
We long, Dear God, to make a new start with you. Lift us, therefore, into your presence, that we like Moses of old may shine with your glory wherever life takes us this week and this year.
Week of January 18 (Second after Epiphany) - Psalm 29
Your voice, O Lord, "is over the waters." It is "powerful [and] full of majesty." Your voice "breaks the cedars ... flashes forth flames of fire ... shakes the wilderness ... [and] strips the forests bare." You sit "enthroned over the flood ... king forever, and on you we depend for both wisdom and strength.
Could it be, however, that even knowing such is not enough? The psalmist calls on us and all heavenly beings to "ascribe to the Lord glory and strength." He further enjoins us to "worship the Lord in holy splendor."
Send your glory among us, O God, that seeing we may truly believe and just as truly praise you day and night from the heart. You clearly continue to do your part as the God and Father of us all. Help us no less to do our part as your children in reflecting your glory to each other and everyone around us.
Week of January 25 (Third after Epiphany) - Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
Why is it, O God, that we so often run away from you rather than toward you? Surely King David tried that, too, but to his eternal credit he came to see that there was no place he could go where you were not already present.
Whether in wakening to life in the morning or going to sleep at night you were there for David. Even before a word is on my tongue," he said, "you know it completely." And ascending to heaven or making his bed in Sheol made no difference to you. He could not run away from you, for you were everywhere he went.
With all David had to confess such awareness might well have done him in. Is that why we try so hard ourselves to hide? Help us like David, Lord, to discover that being found by you is not to be condemned but to be redeemed. So let the searchlight of your eternal presence find any wickedness in us this week. Then turning us away from all that to praise you for your goodness and love lead us in the way everlasting.
