Psalms is one of my favorite books. Using different genres and invoking an array of emotions, Psalms is a book for the whole person. Psalms are for the intellect, will, and emotions. Each week a new Psalm will be added for reflection and contemplation. As you read the Psalms, pray it will deepen your affections for God and help you express your feelings to God.
-Psalms are made up of different genres. Each genre highlights different emotions. Lament, Thanksgiving, Royal, Wisdom, Messianic, Remembrance ~ Just to name a few!
-Enter into emotion. The Psalms call readers to acknowledge and name the emotion, encouraging us to empathize with the author. They express joy, sadness, love, anger, and thanksgiving, reminding us we are not alone in how we feel.
-Pray through the Psalm. Learning to pray through Scripture calls us to slow down and see God’s heart, truth, and posture towards usamidour experiences and feelings.
-Weekly reflections. Take time to review the Psalm for the week. Answer the reflection questions! I am praying for you as you reflect in the Psalms each week! Go slowly. Don’t rush. Your purpose is not to accomplish something, but spend time with someone (Jesus).
-Take your time.Thisis not a race! Intentionally make space each day to read and reflect on the Psalm. We are going to spend about a week on each Psalm. The goal is to learn how to linger and enjoy a relationship with God through the reading of His Word.
Day 1 Read the Psalm. Just read it. Maybe read it twice.
Day 2 Answer the Reflection Questions.
Day 3 Personally Reflect on the Psalm. Write some reflections and questions about the Psalm. What is your favorite verse, why?
Day 4 Write a Prayer for yourself based on the Psalm
Day 5 Slowly Reread the Psalm.
Psalm 1 -The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Reflection Questions
Do I delight in the law of the Lord? Why or Why not?
If I am a tree planted what do I yield?
Where do I find my counsel?
Are my roots shallow or deep?
“Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”