by Pastor Paul Dugan
Try this three-part rhythm for cultivating a heart of trust…
Part I: Pause for silence in the presence of God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Slowly inhale, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Slowly exhale, and be cleansed of any distractions. Repeat this breathing prayer until you have brought your whole self (“as-is”) into the presence of God.
Reflect on the joys and challenges of the day. What are you thankful for? Where did you see God at work? What do you lament? What do you need to confess?
Part II: Slowly read Psalm 92:1-5; 12-15 (NASB) out loud:
1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning
And Your faithfulness by night,
3 With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp,
With resounding music upon the lyre.
4 For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done,
I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.
5 How great are Your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep…
12 The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Planted in the house of the Lord,
They will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still yield fruit in old age;
They shall be full of sap and very green,
15 To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
Part III: Reflecting on your day, pray your own psalm of thanksgiving:
Describe an experience of pain or difficulty…
Did you call on the Lord? If so, describe how.
Describe your experience of God’s deliverance, provision, or guidance.
Give him your thanks and praise.
The psalms were originally written as lyrics, sung by the people of God. Take time to listen to a version of Psalm 92 set to music.
From the album I will Not Be Shaken, by Steve Bell (2015). stevebell.com
by Poor Bishop Hooper. everypsalm.com
For links to individual guides for more than one hundred different psalms click here.
For more on the Psalms:
Here is an introduction to the Book of Psalms.
For a list of psalms by literary style (genre) click here.
For an introduction to the narrative arc of the psalms, see Spirituality of the Psalms, by Walter Brueggemann.