...following SPU's Lectio Guides
October 7-13
First.
Read the assigned Psalms (or plan out a reading schedule for the week)
- Psalms 8
- Psalm 33 (repeat from last week)
- Psalm 144
Second.
Read or Listen to Dr. Frank Spina's Presentation
Third.
Take a Deep Breath...make the words of the Psalm your very own prayer.
Follow this guide for praying Psalm 144
Dr. Spina notes that Psalm 144 is “intensely personal,
as emphasized by the pronouns” I, me, & my.
Pray Psalm 144 as your personal prayer, as one of God’s covenant people.
Praying Psalm 144
(This marking * marks the beginning of each verse in each section of scripture below)
Verses 1-2
*Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for
war, and my fingers for battle; *my rock and my fortress, my stronghold and my
deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge.- Acknowledge. Simply praise God by saying the phrase “you are” before all the “my ____” phrases. Example: Lord, you are my rock and my fortress; you are my stronghold and my deliverer; you are my shield. In you I take refuge. Repeat.
- Ask (Petition). Simply ask God to be there for you by saying the word “be” before all the “my _____” phrases. Example: Lord, be my rock. Lord, be my fortress. Lord, be my stronghold. Lord, be my deliverer. Lord, be my shield. Lord, provide a refuge for me. Repeat.
Verses 3-4
*Lord, what are human beings that you regard them, or
mortals that you think of them? *They are like a breath; their days are like a
passing shadow.
- Observe & Reflect. What reminds you of the vulnerability of being human? How do you experience this vulnerability?
- Confess. Example: Eternal Lord, compared to you we are like a breath. Our days on this earth are relatively brief, like a passing shadow. I often forget this and think/act like I’m the permanent center of the universe. Help me face up to the vulnerability that comes with my humanity. I am amazed that you care about our brief lives, but you do, and I thank you.
Verses 5-11
*Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down; touch the
mountains so that they smoke. *Make the lightning flash and scatter them; send out
your arrows and rout them. *Stretch out
your hand from on high; set me free and rescue me from the mighty waters, from
the hand of aliens, *whose mouths speak
lies, and whose right hands are false. *I
will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to
you, *the one who gives victory to kings, who rescues his servant David. *Rescue
me from the cruel sword, and deliver me from the hand of aliens, whose mouths
speak lies, and whose right hands are false.
- Ask (Petition). Twice in this series of verses the Psalmist cries “rescue me.” Consider what you want God to rescue you from, and pray this as a list, going into depth as you feel the need to. Example: Lord, rescue me from ____ [a bully, someone with more power who is taking advantage of their position, a difficult situation, depression, a critical spirit, anger, etc.].
Verses 12-15
*May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars, cut for the building of a palace. *May our barns be filled, with produce of
every kind; may our sheep increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our
fields, *and may our cattle be heavy with young. May there be no breach in the
walls, no exile, and no cry of distress in our streets. *Happy (blessed) are the people to whom such
blessings fall; happy are the people whose God is the Lord. - Prayerful Imagining. Read verses 12-14 and get a sense of what kind of life or environment these words are describing. Offering your imagined reality to God by praying a similar prayer in your own words: Lord, may ___________________.
- Breath Prayer. Read verse 15. From these words develop a breath prayer to take with you throughout your day. Example A: Lord, you are my God. I am blessed by you. Example B: Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord. I am blessed.
Concluding Thought:
Remember that the Lord is your rock & your fortress. Call upon him to take action in your life, your world.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Kurt
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