Psalm 32: Prayer Reflection
In the past few weeks, as interns, we have been diving into the topic of prayer. We've looked at the different types of prayers and when to use them. We've also been learning how Scripture can help to inform our prayers. To help us put this into practice, we were all assigned a Psalm to turn into a congregational prayer. I was assigned Psalm 34, which I had read before but was not completely familiar with.
To start off, I read through the Psalm to become familiar with its content. I then filled out the P.R.A.Y model (praise, repent, ask, yield) and placed verses of the Psalm into each section. From there, I wrote each section as full sentences and shaped it into something that could be prayed aloud to a congregation.
I found it interesting to hear the different ways everyone structured their prayers, seeing what they chose to include from their Psalms and the language they used. Writing this prayer has helped me read the verses more thoroughly and think more deeply about their meanings, as you need to dissect each aspect of the verses to write the prayer. I would encourage you to give this a go sometime.
Below, I have attached the prayer itself, along with the Psalm I used to write it.
In Christ,
Caleb
Psalm 34
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1 I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.3 Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
[Text Wrapping Break] 9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;
[Text Wrapping Break] 16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19 The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; 20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. 21 Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.22 The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
P.R.A.Y model (praise, repent, ask, yield)[Text Wrapping Break]Praise[Text Wrapping Break]Lord, we lift Your name together, with praise on our lips. We thank You that You are good, that You answer when we call on You, and that You deliver us from our fears. Those who look to You are never put to shame, and we have seen that to be true.[Text Wrapping Break]Repent[Text Wrapping Break]We confess that we have not always lived the way You call us to. Our tongues have spoken what should not be spoken, and we have turned toward evil rather than away from it. We have not always pursued peace. And for this, we ask for forgiveness.[Text Wrapping Break]Ask[Text Wrapping Break]Please teach us to fear You rightly, in reverence rather than dread. Help us to guard our words, to turn from what is wrong, and to pursue peace in the way we treat each other. We bring to You those who are brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. Draw close to them. Hear their cry and deliver them from their troubles.[Text Wrapping Break]Yield[Text Wrapping Break]We trust You, Lord. We lay down our fears, our desires, and our need for control, and we take refuge in You. You will not turn away those who come to You, and so we come. We give You thanks, and we give You praise. In Jesus name, Amen.
