Praying the Psalms

Be filled with the Spirit by reciting psalms, hymns,

and spiritual songs for your own good. Sing

and make music to the Lord with your hearts.

EPHESIANS 5:18-19

CONSIDER WHAT THE MOST respected church fathers, especially Athanasius and Augustine, taught about using psalms. They said we should adapt and adjust our minds so that we are in tune with the psalms. We must sing the psalms with the help of the Holy Spirit. They are like a school for the attitudes of the heart.

For example, when you read in Psalm 1, "Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people," you must actually reject the advice that wicked people give you. When you read, "He delights in the teachings of the LORD," you shouldn't take it easy and pat yourself on the back as if you were a person who already loved the Lord's teachings. For as long as you live, you will need to think of yourself as a person who desperately needs to love God's teachings even more. When you read, "He succeeds in everything he does," you should wish this for yourself and feel sorry for those who find themselves in trouble.

Don't think that you are being asked to do the impossible. All you need to do is try, and I know you will be glad you did. First, practice on one psalm or even one verse of a psalm. You will be successful as soon as you have learned how to make just one verse come alive and live in your heart - even if it takes a day or a whole week. However, after you begin, everything else will follow naturally, and you will find a rich treasure of insight and love. Just be careful you don't let weariness and discouragement prevent you from getting started.