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 77:1-9 (NIV)
1 I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.
3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned;
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
5 I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:
7 “Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
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 77 set to music…
From the album Asaph (2014) by the band Loud Harp. loudharp.com
From the album Wait (2012) 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.