How to Pray
THE PSALMS: A TRELLIS FOR GROWING A LIFE OF PRAYER
by Pastor Paul Dugan
Tucked away in the center of your Bible is a goldmine… the Hebrew Psalms. The Psalms are a playlist for all dimensions of the human experience, a soundtrack for all parts of the human soul. This ancient prayer book is a gift to everyday followers of Jesus. It provides a trellis for growing a life of honest communion with God in the midst of the highs and lows of real life in this world.
Click HERE for a guide to praying the Psalms into your everyday life with God. Includes readings, prayer prompts and music to accompany more than seventy psalms.
The rich diversity of literary styles (genres) of the psalms can be arranged around a three-part narrative arc: Orientation > Disorientation > Reorientation (Source: Spirituality of the Psalms, by Walter Bruggemann).
Act I - The Psalms of Orientation are prayers that affirm that God is on the throne and life is good and well-ordered. These are the “summer psalms.” Genres of orientation: psalms of praise (8, 29, 33, 65, 66, 67, 95, 100, 103, 104, 111, 113, 117, 134, 139, 145 - 148, 150); psalms of enthronement (2, 24, 2, 47, 68, 93, 96 - 99, 110, 149); psalms of Zion (48, 87, 123, 132); psalms of ascent (120 through 134); and psalms of wisdom, (1, 14, 15, 19, 37, 49, 50, 73, 90, 112, 119, 127, 128, 133).
Act II - The Psalms of Disorientation are prayers that question God, God’s ways, and God’s presence, from a place of pain, suffering, disappointment or persecution. These are the “winter psalms.” Genres of disorientation: psalms of lament (5, 6, 12, 13, 17, 22, 25, 26, 28, 31, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 55, 57, 60, 69, 70, 74, 77, 79, 80, 82, 85, 86, 88, 90, 94, 102, 120, 123, 130, 140, 141, 142, 143); psalms of spiritual warfare (‘cursing psalms’) (7, 10, 35, 52, 53, 55, 58, 59, 64, 69, 83, 109, 120, 129, 137). Interestingly, lament is by far the largest category of psalms.
Act III - The Psalms of Reorientation are prayers that look back on suffering through the lens of God’s provision and deliverance. These are the “springtime psalms.” Genres of re-orientation: psalms of sacred history (76, 78, 81, 105, 106, 114, 135, 136); psalms of thanksgiving (18, 30, 32, 34, 67, 92, 107, 116, 118, 124, 126, 138); psalms of trust (Psalm 3, 4, 9, 11, 16, 20, 21, 23, 27, 40, 46, 54, 56, 62, 63, 68, 71, 73, 75, 84, 86, 91, 108, 121, 125, 131, 138, 144).
(Please note: not all psalms fit neatly into a single genre. Many are ‘hybrid’ prayers consisting of two or more literary styles. Ex. Psalm 22 begins as a prayer of lament and concludes with trust).
Orientation > Disorientation > Reorientation. This is real life. We all eventually experience the movement from orientation to disorientation, the “winter” of the soul.
These psalms give us both language and an ancient community of pilgrims that helps us stay alert to God in the midst of these dark and barren seasons of life. They remind you that you are not alone.
But thankfully, winter is not all year long! By God’s grace, we move from disorientation to a reorientation. Springtime breaks in, and with it comes new life. These psalms provide prayers of gratitude and trust for times of renewal.
Where are you in your journey? Orientation, disorientation, or reorientation? I encourage you to take up the psalms that correspond with this season of your soul, and make them your own. Allow these ancient prayers to keep you honest and alert before God in the midst of the realities of your life. To help engage your imagination and heart, we have selected music that corresponds to each psalm.
HOW TO BEGIN TO PRAY THE PSALMS
Click HERE for a guide. This guide provides a three-part rhythm for praying the Psalms into your everyday life with God.
Click HERE for a guide to praying the Lord’s Prayer with the Psalms.