Psalm 92 - A Psalm of Trust (Reorientation)

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.

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 146 (ESV) out loud:

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord while I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Do not trust in princes,
In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
 4 His spirit departs, he returns to the earth;
In that very day his thoughts perish.
 5 How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
 6 Who made heaven and earth,
The sea and all that is in them;
Who keeps faith forever;
 7 Who executes justice for the oppressed;
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free.

8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
The Lord raises up those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous;
 9 The Lord protects the strangers;
He supports the fatherless and the widow,
But He thwarts the way of the wicked.
10 The Lord will reign forever,
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!

Part III: Use your own words to pray Psalm 146 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 146 set to music…

by Corner Room, from "Psalm Songs, Volume 3." cornerroommusic.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.

With Jesus in the School of Prayer

For a prayer guide that integrates the Lord’s Prayer and the Psalms click HERE.

Luke 11 (NLT) Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray...”2 Jesus said, “This is how you should pray:

“Father, may your name be kept holy.
    May your Kingdom come soon.
3 Give us each day the food we need,
4 and forgive us our sins,
    as we forgive those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation.”

When we ask what to pray, Jesus doesn’t give us a complicated, flowery, super-spiritual-sounding, long litany of what to pray. He gives us five simple lines. I love translation in The Message:

Father, reveal who you are; Set the world right; Keep us alive with three square meals; Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others; Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.

These are the Lord’s Prayers.  The BIG FIVE Jesus-prayers.

The 1st Jesus-prayer focuses our hearts on the Father’s praise- Hallowed be your Name. The goal of Jesus’ entire life and ministry was to honor his Father. We pray the same in our world- “Father, may your name be praised today in my life, my family, my church family, neighborhood, community. In biblical understanding, one’s name signifies one’s reputation. When we pray, “hallowed be your name”, we pray, “Father, elevate your reputation in…”

The 2nd Jesus-prayer focuses on the Father’s purpose- Your kingdom come. The main message of Jesus’ ministry was this: “The time has come. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the good news.’ After rising from the dead, he declared: ‘All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me…’ We pray, “Father, may your kingdom come, may your rule and reign become a reality today… in my relationships, my finances, my schedule, my body, my sexuality, my work, my politics, my shopping, my stuff,…It’s all yours. Bring it all under your liberating rule!

The 3rd Jesus prayer-focuses on the Father’s provision- Give us today our daily bread. According to Jesus, human physical well-being really matters. This prayer is not about ‘spiritual bread’ but about material, bodily, everyday, tangible human needs. Note the key word, basic: Jesus did not tell us to pray, ‘Father, give us our daily Iced Blended Mocha Frappaccino with whip.” No, we are to pray for daily bread- a basic staple of life. Luther added: “As we pray for bread we are praying at the same time for everything necessary for the preservation of human life, clean drinking water, a healthy body, good weather, house, home, …good business and government, justice and peace.”

The 4th Jesus-prayer focuses on the Father’s pardon and reconciliation:  Forgive us…, as we forgive…. Sin is essentially seeking my own kingdom over God’s, my own name over God’s, my own will over God’s. Sin involves trespasses (the wrong I’ve done) and debts (the good I’ve left undone). I find this 4th Jesus prayer-the most challenging, because in it Jesus ties our forgiveness to how we forgive others: “We are essentially saying, “Father, I ask you to forgive me in the same way that I forgive those who have sinned against me.”

Finally, the 5th Jesus-prayer focuses on the Father’s protection- Lead us not into temptation. We are in a spiritual battle: the devil, the world and our own flesh never stop attacking us, seducing, deceiving, dividing, distracting, discouraging,, and so on. Like sheep, we are profoundly vulnerable. And the Father is our Good Shepherd.

These are the Lord’s Prayers, focusing on the priorities of Jesus: the Father’s Praise, Purpose, Provision, Pardon, and Protection. When we ask, ‘teach us to pray, Lord,’ Jesus doesn’t give us a formula or mantra for rote repetition. Jesus gives us a trellis- a framework for growing a lifetime of prayer.

Psalm 68 - 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 from Psalm 68 (ESV) out loud:

1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
    and those who hate him shall flee before him!
 2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
    as wax melts before fire,
    so the wicked shall perish before God!
 3 But the righteous shall be glad;
    they shall exult before God;
    they shall be jubilant with joy!

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
    lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the Lord;
    exult before him!
 5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
    is God in his holy habitation.
 6 God settles the solitary in a home;
    he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
    but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when you went out before your people,
    when you marched through the wilderness, 
 8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
    before God, the One of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
 9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
    you restored your inheritance as it languished;
 10 your flock found a dwelling in it;
    in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy…

17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
    thousands upon thousands;
    the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
 18 You ascended on high,
    leading a host of captives in your train
    and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.

19 Blessed be the Lord,
    who daily bears us up;
    God is our salvation…

32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
    sing praises to the Lord, 
 33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
    behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
 34 Ascribe power to God,
    whose majesty is over Israel,
    and whose power is in the skies.
 35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
    the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!

Part III: Reflecting on Psalm 68, 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 68 set to music…

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.

Psalm 48 - 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 48 (NLT) out loud:

1 How great is the Lord,
    how deserving of praise,
in the city of our God,
    which sits on his holy mountain!
2 It is high and magnificent;
    the whole earth rejoices to see it!
Mount Zion, the holy mountain,
    is the city of the great King!
3 God himself is in Jerusalem’s towers,
    revealing himself as its defender.

4 The kings of the earth joined forces
    and advanced against the city.
5 But when they saw it, they were stunned;
    they were terrified and ran away.
6 They were gripped with terror
    and writhed in pain like a woman in labor.
7 You destroyed them like the mighty ships of Tarshish
    shattered by a powerful east wind.

8 We had heard of the city’s glory,
    but now we have seen it ourselves—
    the city of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
It is the city of our God;
    he will make it safe forever. Interlude

9 O God, we meditate on your unfailing love
    as we worship in your Temple.
10 As your name deserves, O God,
    you will be praised to the ends of the earth.
    Your strong right hand is filled with victory.
11 Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice.
    Let all the towns of Judah be glad
    because of your justice.

12 Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem.
    Walk around and count the many towers.
13 Take note of the fortified walls,
    and tour all the citadels,
that you may describe them
    to future generations.
14 For that is what God is like.
    He is our God forever and ever,
    and he will guide us until we die.

Part III: Reflecting on Psalm 48, 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. Here’s a version of Psalm 48 set to music…

Streetlights is a hip-hop inspired audio Bible. Streetlightsbible.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 47 - A Psalm of Enthronement (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 47 (NIV) out loud

1 Clap your hands, all you nations;
    shout to God with cries of joy.

2 For the Lord Most High is awesome,
    the great King over all the earth.
3 He subdued nations under us,
    peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us,
    the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.

5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
    the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
    sing to him a psalm of praise.

8 God reigns over the nations;
    God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble
    as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God;
    he is greatly exalted.

Part III: Use your own words to pray Psalm 47 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. Here’s a version of Psalm 47 set to music…

From the album Worship in the Word (2022) by Shane and Shane. shaneandshane.com

Psalm 47 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.

Psalm 37 - A Psalm of Wisdom (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 from Psalm 37 (NLT)

1  Don’t worry about the wicked
    or envy those who do wrong.
2 For like grass, they soon fade away.
    Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good.
    Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you your heart’s desires.

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.
    Trust him, and he will help you.
6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
    and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

7 Be still in the presence of the Lord,
    and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
    or fret about their wicked schemes…

16 …It is better to be godly and have little
    than to be evil and rich.
17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,
    but the Lord takes care of the godly.

18 Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent,
    and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.
19 They will not be disgraced in hard times;
    even in famine they will have more than enough.

20 But the wicked will die.
    The Lord’s enemies are like flowers in a field—
    they will disappear like smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and never repay,
    but the godly are generous givers.
22 Those the Lord blesses will possess the land,
    but those he curses will die.

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
    He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
    for the Lord holds them by the hand.

25 Once I was young, and now I am old.
    Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
    or their children begging for bread.
26 The godly always give generous loans to others,
    and their children are a blessing…

Part III: Use your own words to pray Psalm 37 back to God:

“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, for the freedom to choose you!

“I bring to you the ways I am tempted by my culture’s definitions of ‘success’…

"I bring to you the choices that are before me today… (ex, how I invest my 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 37set to music…

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.

Psalm 31 - 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 31 (NLT)

1 O Lord, I have come to you for protection;
    don’t let me be disgraced.
    Save me, for you do what is right.
2 Turn your ear to listen to me;
    rescue me quickly.
Be my rock of protection,
    a fortress where I will be safe.
3 You are my rock and my fortress.
    For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.
4 Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,
    for I find protection in you alone.
5 I entrust my spirit into your hand.
    Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.

6 I hate those who worship worthless idols. I trust in the Lord.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,
    for you have seen my troubles,
    and you care about the anguish of my soul.
8 You have not handed me over to my enemies
    but have set me in a safe place.

9 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes.
    My body and soul are withering away.
10 I am dying from grief;
    my years are shortened by sadness.
Sin has drained my strength;
    I am wasting away from within.
11 I am scorned by all my enemies
    and despised by my neighbors—
    even my friends are afraid to come near me.
When they see me on the street,
    they run the other way.
12 I am ignored as if I were dead,
    as if I were a broken pot.
13 I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror.
My enemies conspire against me,
    plotting to take my life.

14 But I am trusting you, O Lord,
    saying, “You are my God!”
15 My future is in your hands.
    Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
16 Let your favor shine on your servant.
    In your unfailing love, rescue me.
17 Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord,
    for I call out to you for help.
Let the wicked be disgraced;
    let them lie silent in the grave.
18 Silence their lying lips—
    those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.

19 How great is the goodness
    you have stored up for those who fear you.
You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,
    blessing them before the watching world.
20 You hide them in the shelter of your presence,
    safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence,
    far from accusing tongues.

Part III: Pray your own lament psalm- for yourself, or on behalf of someone who is suffering in your world.

  • Describe the trouble in detail to God.

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

  • Bring him your honest questions: "Lord, why….?; "How long, Lord, before you…?; "Where are you in…?

  • Make your plea to God: "Please, Lord…; "Remember back when you…; Do it again, Lord!”

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 31 set to music…

From the album Come to Me by Wendell Kimbrough, 2018. wendellk.com

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.

Need Prayer? prayer@mycoastal.org