Praying the Psalms

We pray because we’ve chosen to orient our life around prayer, and we submit ourselves wholly to that life. Rather than our spiritual life being reactive - constantly responding to life’s circumstances - this way of life is a steady rhythm and an anchor. Rather than trying to find words to express whatever we might be experiencing, we pray the Scriptures and try to find our lives in those words.

Psalm of the day: Take whatever day of the month it is and add thirty to it four times.

• Ex: On the 30th of the month, your psalms are 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150.

• Read the first psalm on the list and if it doesn’t seem to speak to where you are at the time, jump to the next one, and so on, until you find a Psalm that is an invitation.

How to practice

• Set a timer (start with 5-10 minutes)

• Start by calming down your body and mind

• Pray a short breath prayer a few times

• Begin praying the psalms.

• imply let the words of the Psalm guide your prayers.

• Repeat this practice.

There is not a “right” or “wrong” way to pray the Psalms. Let the Psalm be your guide, bring your life into the text and, through the text, to God.