I often find myself intimidated by prayer. I care deeply about the messages that I convey to others; I weigh my thoughts and words carefully, especially in times of intense communication. Of course, this deliberate nature bleeds over into my prayer life. I know that God already knows my heart, my intentions, and the truths I won’t admit aloud, whether I choose to speak them or not (Psalm 139:1-4). Despite this awareness, I find myself setting up arbitrary requirements before I begin to pray. I create parameters and expectations that God never asked for, but rather that I manufactured so that I can feel like I’m praying the right way. This desire to sound eloquent or intelligent before the God of the universe who knows my filthiest sin is upsettingly similar to the Gentile prayers Jesus rebuked in Matthew 6:7-8, but that’s a post for another day.
I was excited to get into the Psalms in our daily reading; I’d been looking forward to it for weeks. We’d gotten small glimpses with the Psalms and praise songs written by Moses, Deborah and Barak, Hannah, and other snippets in previous Old Testament passages. But anticipating David’s entrance to the story meant we’d get to spend weeks and months linking heartfelt poetry and prayers to historical events.
I think the Psalms are one of the greatest gifts that we have been given in Scripture, whether you consider yourself an emotional person or not. Psalms give us permission to feel. In a world obsessed with putting up an image or facade that projects a meticulously-curated version of our best selves for the consumption of others, we need the breath of fresh air that comes from the Psalms. We need to see David wrestle, question, weep, praise, get angry, doubt, display joy, and still extol the Lord. Do not misread: the Psalms are not granting us the right to be controlled by our emotions (we must still practice Christ-like discernment and self-control). But having the freedom to acknowledge our feelings, process them, offer them up, and allow them to lead us closer to the Lord is a gift that we don’t deserve.
As such, whether you consider yourself to be a feeler or a thinker or somewhere in between, Psalms offer a template for prayer in almost every situation and emotion that we could possibly experience. David may not have lived through COVID-19, but he spent years feeling lonely, abandoned, and confused. He evades death at the hand of his enemies many times, and his response always circles back to praise. David recognizes that his struggle against Saul or the enemies of Israel is really not his struggle at all–every conflict waged against him is actually for the Lord. We see this reflected often in David’s psalms, where he repeatedly requests God’s intervention. Don’t miss this: David doesn’t just want God’s help. So often my prayers consist of me asking God for leadership, guidance, or signs. These aren’t inherently bad or wrong requests, but even in these prayers I try to maintain some measure of control over my life. I want God’s guidance in a situation so that I know what action to take. I ask for God’s help in overcoming a struggle, but I don’t relinquish it wholly to God. I still want some level of participation in my own salvation, despite Scripture’s clear declaration: salvation belongs to the Lord.
As we continue our journey through David’s life and the Psalms, consider praying through some of the passages. The Psalmists’ words can help us process our experiences and lead us back to a posture of praise and adoration of the God we serve. We are reminded that our struggle is not against flesh and bone, but that the hardships we contend with are actually spiritual matters (Ephesians 6:12). Hand over your fears and trials, allowing God to act on your behalf, not vice versa. Don’t worry about dressing up your own words and phrases to make yourself sound more poetic. Rather, pour out your groanings and hardships, allowing yourself to be emptied of this world and refilled with Him.
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph.”
Psalm 77:11-15
Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash
