Psalm 3 - A Psalm of Trust (Reorientation)

by Pastor Paul Dugan

Try this three-part rhythm for cultivating a heart of trust…

Part I: Become present to the presence of God.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

Pause for silence before him. Slowly inhale, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Slowly exhale, and release any distractions you are carrying into this moment. Repeat this breathing prayer until you have brought your whole self - your thoughts, imagination, desires, and body- (“as-is”) before 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 3 out loud:

1  Lord, how many are my foes!
    How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
    “God will not deliver him.”

3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the Lord,
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.

5 I lie down and sleep;
    I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side.

7 Arise, Lord!
    Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
    break the teeth of the wicked.

8 From the Lord comes deliverance.
    May your blessing be on your people.

Part III: Reflecting on Psalm 3, pray your own psalm of trust:

“Lord, you are my…

“I depend on you to…

“Without you, I am…

“Even when…, I trust you.

“I am confident that you will… 

The psalms were originally written as lyrics, sung by the people of God. Take time to listen to a version of Psalm 3 set to music…

From the album, I Will Not Be Shaken, by Steve Bell (2015), stevebell.com

from the album Rain (2008) by Sons of Korah. sonsofkorah.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.

Psalm 116 - A Psalm of Thanksgiving (Reorienation)

by Pastor Paul Dugan

Try this three-part rhythm for cultivating a heart of gratitude…

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 116 (NIV) out loud:

1  I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
    he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me,
    I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death entangled me,
    the anguish of the grave came over me;
    I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    “Lord, save me!”

5 The Lord is gracious and righteous;
    our God is full of compassion.
6 The Lord protects the unwary;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.

7 Return to your rest, my soul,
    for the Lord has been good to you.

8 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling,
9 that I may walk before the Lord
    in the land of the living.

10 I trusted in the Lord when I said,
    “I am greatly afflicted”;
11 in my alarm I said,
    “Everyone is a liar.”

12 What shall I return to the Lord
    for all his goodness to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and call on the name of the Lord.
14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
    is the death of his faithful servants.
16 Truly I am your servant, Lord;
    I serve you just as my mother did;
    you have freed me from my chains.

17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
    and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the Lord—
    in your midst, Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord.

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.

Tip: create a record of gratitude by jotting down your reflections in a journal.

The psalms were originally written as lyrics, sung by the people of God. Take time to listen to a version of Psalm 116 set to music…

from the album Light of Life (1999) by Sons of Korah. sonsofkorah.com

From the album Sons and Daughters (2004), by Steve Bell.stevebell.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.

Psalm 73 - A Psalm of Trust (Reorientation)

by Pastor Paul Dugan

Try this three-part rhythm for cultivating a heart of trust…

Part I: Become present to the presence of God.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

Pause for silence before him. Slowly inhale, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Slowly exhale, and release any distractions you are carrying into this moment. Repeat this breathing prayer until you have brought your whole self - your thoughts, imagination, desires, and body- (“as-is”) before 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 73:1-3; 23-28 out loud:

1  Surely God is good to Israel,
    to those who are pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
    I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked….

23 …Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever.

27 Those who are far from you will perish;
    you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
    I will tell of all your deeds.

Part III: Reflecting on these words from Psalm 73, pray your own psalm of trust:

“Lord, you are my…

“I depend on you to…

“Without you, I am…

“Even when…, I trust you.

“I am confident that you will… 

The psalms were originally written as lyrics, sung by the people of God. Take time to listen to these versions of Psalm 73 set to music…

From the album Asaph (2014) by Loud Harp. loudharp.com

from the album Shelter (2002) by Sons of Korah. sonsofkorah.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.

Psalm 148 - A Psalm of Praise (Orientation)

by Pastor Paul Dugan

Try beginning your prayer with praise, using this three-part rhythm.

Part I: Become present to the presence of God:

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Ps 90:14)

Pause for silence before him. Slowly inhale, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Slowly exhale, and release any burdens you are carrying into this new day. Repeat this breathing prayer until you have brought your whole self - your thoughts, imagination, desires, and body- (“as-is”) into the presence of God.

Part II: Slowly read Psalm 148 out loud:

1  Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
    and you waters above the skies.

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever—
    he issued a decree that will never pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
    old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,
    the praise of all his faithful servants,
    of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise the Lord.

Part III: Use your own words to pray Psalm 148 back to God

“Lord God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit- I praise you, for who you are…

“I praise you for what you have done. Specifically, I thank you for…

The psalms were originally written as lyrics. They have been sung by the people of God throughout the history of Israel and the church. Take time to listen to a version of Psalm 148 set to music…

From the album Unchanging God, by Sovereign Grace music. (2022) sovereigngracemusic.org

from the album Redemption Sons (2000) by Sons of Korah. sonsofkorah.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.

Psalm 51 - A Psalm of Lament (Disorientation)

by Pastor Paul Dugan

Try this three-part rhythm for pausing in the midst of your days for prayer:

Part I: Become present to the presence of God.

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:10-11

Pause for silence before him. Slowly inhale, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Slowly exhale, and release any distractions you are carrying into this moment. Repeat this breathing prayer until you have brought your whole self - your thoughts, imagination, desires, and body- (“as-is”) before God.

Part II: Slowly read from Psalm 51:1-12

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
    blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    and cleanse me from my sin!

3 For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
    and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
    and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
    and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Part III: Pray your own psalm of repentance

• Describe your failure in detail to God.

• Express your honest emotions: "Lord, I am feeling sad about…; "… angry…; “… afraid…; “…ashamed…”

• Make your plea to God: "Please, Lord…; "Restore…”

• Receive his forgiveness: Christ has taken all my sin and failure upon himself. I now stand in his mercy. Father, may I now delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name.

The psalms were originally written as lyrics. They have been sung by the people of God throughout the history of Israel and the church. Take time to listen to a version of Psalm 51 set to music…

From the album Psalms II (2015) by Shane and Shane. shaneandshane.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.

Psalm 119:33-40 - A Psalm of Wisdom (Orientation)

by Pastor Paul Dugan

Try using this three-part rhythm to cultivate a heart of wisdom…

Part I: Become present to the presence of God:

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Ps 90:14)

Pause for silence before him. Slowly inhale, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Slowly exhale, and release any burdens you are carrying into this new day. Repeat this breathing prayer until you have brought your whole self - your thoughts, imagination, desires, and body- (“as-is”) into the presence of God.

Part II: Slowly read Psalm 119:33-40 out loud.

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;
    and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
    and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
    for I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies,
    and not to selfish gain!
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
    and give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,
    that you may be feared.
39 Turn away the reproach that I dread,
    for your rules are good.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts;
    in your righteousness give me life!

Part III: Use your own words to pray this psalm back to God

“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things… (list any trivial pursuits that can distract you from ‘worthy things’)

“I thank you God for giving us clear boundaries, for defining for us what is true and false, good and evil, wise and foolish. And thank you for giving us the freedom to choose the good! I bring to you the choices that are before me today… (ex, how you plan to invest your time, thoughts, words, relationships, money, abilities, body, etc.)

The psalms were originally written as lyrics. They have been sung by the people of God throughout the history of Israel and the church. Take time to listen to a version of Psalm 119:33-40 set to music…

Live performance of "Psalm 119:33-40" from "Psalm Songs, Volume 2." Download the album on iTunes or buy CDs at cornerroommusic.com. ©2018 Corner Room Music

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.

Zoom Out

How to make the most of our journey through Paul’s Letter to the Romans…

Busting Out of Your Echo Chamber

By Evbestie - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56883490

by Pastor Paul Dugan

 An “echo chamber” is a situation in which my beliefs are amplified or reinforced by communication and repetition inside a closed system insulated from rebuttal (oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com). By participating in an echo chamber, I am able to seek out information that reinforces and confirms my existing biases.  Echo chambers are partially a product of the digital revolution. Major online media outlets have established personalized algorithms intended to cater specific information to my online feed. Thus, if I do not intentionally seek out a wider perspective, all my digital content is curated by impersonal marketing tools designed to curate my attention and keep me clicking away in my epistemological tunnel.   Echo chambers have had a significant part both in the growing polarization of American culture, and in the growing tribalization of the contemporary Christian church in America.

Echo chambers are insidious.  Like a fish in water, I swim in my own chamber of cultural bias, and I can’t see it.  I don’t know how insulated I am until something dramatically forces me to see the world through another perspective.  For me, this dramatic (and delightful) disruption takes place in two primary ways:

1)      as I deliberately try to listen to the whole Story of Scripture (not just the parts that confirm what I already believe). A wise reading of the whole of the Bible (OT/NT, Gospel/Prophets, Narratives/Letters, Apocalyptic/Wisdom, etc.) will constantly challenge my own personal, cultural, and political biases. Jesus cannot fit in my echo chamber. Neither can the Bible. Click here for a Bible reading plan that gets you into the whole Story.

2)      as I deliberately listen to followers of Jesus from other cultures, ethnicities, political parties, or economic classes. For example, for the past year I have been re-reading American history for the first time through the lens of my black brothers and sisters in Christ. My long-held biases are being constantly challenged by this exercise.

There is another tool I have found to be very helpful in breaking out of my own echo chamber (“male, baby boomer, white, west coast American, upper middle class, educated, conservative evangelical”): podcasts. With its diversity of topics, genres, and perspectives, the medium of the podcast can be a gift for such a time as this… if we use it wisely.  My suggestion: create a listening feed that includes voices outside your own cultural tribe. My current listening mix is quite eclectic, including podcasts on history, culture, science, politics, the arts, crime, psychology, biblical studies, theology, spiritual formation, and of course, great human interest story-telling.

Click here for a sampler of ten episodes from my podcast mix from the past two weeks. Whether or not you and I agree with every viewpoint, we can treat these voices as ‘conversation partners,’ welcoming the opportunity to be challenged and inspired to re-think through the issues for ourselves. 

Step One: Humility

Everyone has a cultural set of lenses that shape how we view the world. And every set of lenses has its own blinders. The first step in breaking out of your echo chamber is having humility- admitting you don’t see the whole picture.

The Lord Jesus of Scripture cannot fit in your echo chamber. He cannot fit in mine, either. As followers of Jesus, part of our personal discipleship is learning to let him blow out the walls of those chambers. Jesus expands our vision. We get to see the world more and more clearly through his eyes, through the lens of the Story of Scripture and the reality of kingdom of God. What a privilege!

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it, I see everything else.” (CS Lewis, The Weight of Glory)

The Psalms: Keeping Us Real

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.

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, 146, 147, 148, 150); psalms of enthronement (2, 24, 47, 68, 93, 96, 97, 98, 99, 110); psalms of Zion (48, 87, 123, 132); psalms of ascent (120 through 134); and psalms of wisdom, (1, 14, 15, 19, 37, 49, 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, 28, 31, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43 44, 55, 57, 60, 69, 70, 74, 77, 79, 80, 82, 85, 88, 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 new-orientation: psalms of sacred history (76, 78, 81, 105, 106, 114, 135, 136); psalms of thanksgiving (18, 30, 32, 34, 92, 107, 116, 118, 124, 126, 138); psalms of trust (Psalm 3, 4, 9, 11, 16, 23, 27, 54, 56, 62, 63, 71, 84, 86, 91, 108, 115, 121, 125, 131).

(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 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.

For an index to digital prayer guides for more than one hundred individual psalms, click here.

Together in Christ,

Pastor Paul