Learning to Pray Using the Psalms. Introduction

Transcription

1 Learning to Pray Using the Psalms Introduction All you need for this study is your Bible and a notebook. A journal from Stonemart would work great. Always begin your study asking God to reveal His truth to you. Tell Him you are eager to hear what He wants to say. Prayer is a conversation - a two-way conversation. God speaks to you through His Word and you respond to His Word through prayer - talking with Him about what you just read. As you read, learn to read with a purpose. Think! Lesson 1 Read through Psalm 116. Make a list of everything you learn about God. He is revealing something to you about His character and His nature. Praise Him for these things. Example: I praise you, LORD, because You hear my prayers. Lesson 2 Pray - asking the God of the universe to speak to your heart. Read through Psalm 116 again. How does this Psalm give you comfort? Was life soft and sweet and fluffy for the psalmist? What does that show you? Who do you turn to in times of sorrow and distress? List the benefits the Lord has given you. This will lead you into a time of thanksgiving. Read Hebrews 13:15 to get some insight into what a sacrifice of thanksgiving is. How thankful are you? This may bring you into a time of expressing your sorrow to God for not being thankful. Look at I John 1:9. Determine today to begin to give Him thanks. If you need help in this area, tell Him and then ask Him for His help. What verses in this Psalm give you the confidence to do this? Lesson 3 Always begin your study with prayer. Slow down. Remember this is not an assignment. This is a tool to bring you into communication with God. There are two elements of good communication - talking and listening. Still yourself so you are ready to listen when God speaks to you through His Word. Read Psalm 116 aloud this time. What is one of the phrases you hear and/or see repeated through this Psalm? When God gives you a name for Himself, it is His way of letting you know something about His character or ways. When you see LORD all in capitals, it means Jehovah - the One who has always existed. This name was first revealed in Scripture in Exodus 3: The truths that you learn about God also apply to Jesus because Jesus said in John 10:30, "I and the Father are one." Look at Hebrews 13:8. Is this also true for God the

2 Father? What have you learned about the character of God just from this Psalm that will be true when you call on His name? Did you see the awesome promise of prayer in Psalm 116:1-2? He hears your voice. He has turned His ear to you. You can call on Him as long as you live! Use Psalm 116 as a prayer of praise to the LORD. Make it personal; use "I". Lesson 4 As you pray, ask God to reveal Himself to you today through His Word. You need to know the God to whom you are praying. Read Psalm 139:1-6. Make a list of what God knows about you. Is there anything that God does not know? How did David the psalmist, respond to this truth? You can praise God for what He knows about you, and you can also pray confidently because God knows where you are; not just physically, but emotionally too. This passage shows that God is omniscient. That's just a big word that means He is all-knowing. If you are wondering, "Well, if God knows everything then why doesn't He...? The key to knowing God is not to ask "why", but "what". What can I learn about God today that will help me face this day? Cling to that truth today and it will be enough. He is always enough. Lesson 5 Before you begin, pray asking God to teach you more about His character. Read Psalm 139: Make a list of everything you learn about God. Read Jeremiah 23:23-24, Dan. 2:22, and I John 1:5. What further insights do you learn about God? These verses in Psalms show us that God is omnipresent, which means He is present - anywhere, any time. Are you running from God? How can this Psalm bring you rest and quiet your soul? How does this facet of God's character build your faith? Thank God for His presence. Trust in His presence no matter your circumstances! Lesson 6 Always begin in prayer. Truth is revealed, and if you have received Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, then you have the Holy Spirit living inside you revealing truth. It is God's desire that you know Him in a way that changes you from the inside out. Read Psalm 139: Add to your list the truths you learn about God from these verses. Meditate on these things. Let the Word of God replace any hurtful words that may have been spoken to you in your lifetime. Perhaps you were told

3 as a child you were a mistake. Is that true according to these verses? Who are you going to believe, man or God? This is how you renew your mind - replace the old thought patterns with the truth. In this section you see God as Creator - your Creator. Spend time thanking God for who He created you to be He considers His work in you wonderful. That's how He sees you. Ask Him to give you His eyes to see yourself the way He does. Lesson 7 Are you getting better acquainted with God? Would you like to know Him better? Tell Him before you start your study. So far in this Psalm you have learned that God knows all about you. He is with you at all times. He created you and even knows how long you will live. He saw you when you were conceived. In fact, He sees you at all times. He sees everything. One of the names of God is El Roi, the God Who sees. Read Genesis 16 where this name is first used. What were the circumstances of Hagar in verses 6-8? Do you see that it was God who found Hagar? He knew exactly where she was and why she was there. What does Hagar call God in verse 13? Can you trust Him as your El Roi? Can He see that one that you can't for whatever reason? How can that help you in your prayers? Lesson 8 You are building a foundation to help you know the One to whom you are praying. Each truth that you learn is like adding a brick. You can call on the name of the LORD as long as you live. You have learned something about two of those names that will help you when you pray. Spend today reviewing your notebook that contains everything you have learned about God and His ways. Bring your time with the Lord to a close by using Psalm 139:17-18 as a praise. He not only is your Creator, but He is your Sustainer, too! Do you know how precious you are to Him? He gave His one and only Son so that you might have life abundantly and live eternally with Him. He is for you. Let the truth in Psalm 118:6-7 settle deep down in your heart. Lesson 9 Are you in the habit of praying before you begin your study yet? Sit still before Him asking Him to ready you for what He wants to show you. Read Psalm 139: What do you learn about God in these verses? Add them to your notebook. What is He going to do to the wicked? Why? Who are God's enemies? Read James 4:4. Let God speak to you about your

4 priorities. Read the last two verses of Psalm 139 as a prayer straight from your heart to God's. Then pay attention as He brings things to your mind that He wants to correct. Remember that whom the LORD loves He disciplines. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Lesson 10 Pray, asking the Lord to show you great and mighty things that you do not know. Read Psalm 23:1-3. Make a list of all the things the Lord does for you. Read Psalm 95:6-7. What are we according to these verses? Sheep need a shepherd. Who does Jesus say He is in John 10:7-11? Do you know Him today as your Good Shepherd? If you don't, tell Him that you want to and ask Him to be your Good Shepherd. If you do, thank Him for all the things He does for you as your Good Shepherd using these Scriptures. Lesson 11 Always pray before you begin. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus provides all that you need. Jehovah Jireh is a name for God that means the Lord Provides. It is first mentioned in Genesis 22:1-14. The Lord will provide. Look at the characteristics of God that you have been listing in your notebook. Is this Someone you can trust? Is He aware of your needs? Does He have your best interest at heart? Do you have a need today that you can trust the Lord to meet? Are you willing to accept His way of meeting that need? Spend some time today talking to Him about these things and letting the truths of His Word settle deep down in your heart. Lesson 12 Pray, asking the God of all comfort to use His Word to comfort you today. Read Psalm 23:4-6. If you are a child of God, you are not exempt from dark days. In fact, as His children we want to learn to embrace the dark days as much as we do the good days. Why? Who is with you? If you will let the darkness press you ever closer to Him, you will begin to really know God in a way that only those who have suffered know Him. He will provide comfort for you that only He can. When the darkness passes (and it will) you can look back and see that surely His goodness and loving kindness was with you all the time. Ask Him for eyes to see His goodness and the ways His loving kindness is shown to you. And then thank Him that as His child you will live in His house forever. That's a long, long time. This darkness is but for a moment in comparison to eternity. Take courage and be comforted. Lesson 13

5 Ask the Lord to lead you into truth today. Read Psalm 25:1-7. What two characteristics of God do you see in verses 6 & 7? List the requests that the writer of the psalm makes. There is power in using the Word of God as your prayer. If you want to know the ways of the Lord, read these verses again aloud this time as your prayer to the Lord. Lesson 14 Prayer before you read God's Word is essential. You have probably learned that after 14 days of being faithful to begin your time with the Lord in prayer. When an action is repeated that long, it becomes a habit. You have developed what we pray is a life long habit. Did you see in yesterday's study that God is compassionate and has loving kindness towards you? If not, you will want to add these characteristics of God to your list in your notebook. Read Psalm 25:8-11. List everything you learn about the Lord. Not only are you learning the very nature of God and His ways, but this list can become your praise to the Lord. On what basis does the psalmist ask the Lord to pardon his iniquity? Review some of the names of God that you have learned. Praise Him for these characteristics and attributes. Lesson 15 Pray and read Psalm 25: What do you learn about the man who fears the Lord? Are you in awe of the Lord? Does your life reflect a respect for Him and His Word? In other words, do you fear the Lord? To fear the Lord is to be in awe of His greatness and to have a great respect for who He is and what He says. Are your eyes continually toward the Lord? Spend some time talking with Him about these things. Lesson 16 Pray before you begin. Read Psalm 25: List the things that the psalmist asks the Lord to do. Maybe your heart is troubled today. Take refuge in the Lord. He loves you with a love that will not let go. Lesson 17 Pray and read Psalm 121. It is only eight verses. Add to your list everything you learn about the Lord. Use these truths as the basis for your prayer of praise to the Lord. You can also use these truths as requests. Maybe you need some help with something today. Your prayer could be something like this: You are the LORD. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. You are the One who made heaven and earth, and You made me. Won't You help me with

6 ...? Thank You for the help that will come. Help me to keep my eyes on You and only You. Lesson 18 Pray before you read Psalm 46:1-7. How is God described in verse 1? The next time a "shaking in your boots, heart-racing" kind of fear grips you, remember this verse. This would be a great verse to commit to memory. Whether you make a 3x5 card or type it in your note section of your cell phone, keep the verse before your eyes. Read it aloud three times a day and before you know it, you will have it memorized. Look at II Timothy 1:7. That word timidity can be translated fear. Know that God didn't give you that fear, but He has given you power and love and discipline or sound judgment. I John 4:18 tells us that "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. No matter what you are facing today, God is your very present help. Close your time with the Lord with David's prayer out of Psalm 61:1-3. Lesson 19 Ask God to speak to you through His Word and to help you cease striving in other words, be still. Read Psalm 46:8-11. Make a list of the things the Lord has done. In the light of that power, what are you told to do in verse 10? Review your notebook. What do you know about God? Ask Him to sink these truths deep down in your being. Lesson 20 Pray and then read Psalm 100. Make a list of what you learn about God. Make a list of every action you are commanded to take. How long does His loving kindness last? Read II Timothy 2:13, If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is. Give thanks to Him and bless His name. Lesson 21 Pray and read Psalm 143:1-6. Can you hear the anguish in David's cry? Why is David so overwhelmed? What was the remedy that David took in verses 5 and 6? Is your heart fainting today? Take David's advice and spend some time today remembering the truths that you have learned for yourself. Think about all of God's ways and the works of His hands. What have you learned from Psalm 116:1-2 that can be encouraging to a faint heart today? Lesson 22 Pray and read Psalm 143:7-12. What requests does David make of the Lord? Has David's attitude changed? What does David say he does in verses 8-9? How does he describe himself in verse 12? How about you? Are you

7 serving God wherever He has you right now - in the home, in the workplace, in the classroom, in the church? Sometimes service is an act that can be seen and sometimes it is a quiet attitude of the heart, submitting to the Lord, as a servant does to his master. Verse 10 is a great prayer request. Pray it for yourself, your loved ones, and anyone else that the Lord brings to your mind. Lesson 23 As is your habit by now, ask the Lord to speak to your heart today. Read Psalm 37:1-6. List all the things that you are commanded to do in these verses. List all the things that the Lord will do. Do the things the Lord will do depend on your actions? When you think about the Lord, is it with delight? Do you trust Him for this day, this moment, this situation? Talk with Him about the things He has spoken to you about today. Lesson 24 Pray and read Psalm 37:7-11. Again, list the actions you are to take. What does God have to say about fretting or worry? Read Philippians 4:6-7. How is it possible to be anxious for nothing? By prayer and supplication (your requests) with thanksgiving. Are you to be thankful for the thing that is worrying you? Or are you to be thankful for the God who sees you, who loves you, who will provide what you need? Snuggle down, little sheep. Your Good Shepherd is with you. Take your worries to Him and then keep your mind focused on Philippians 4:8. Lesson 25 Ask the Lord to reveal truth to you today. Read Psalm 37: What does God have to say about the wicked? Contrast that with what He says about the righteous and the blameless. Does it ever look like the bad guy is winning? What does this passage say will happen to the wicked? What will the Lord do for the righteous? Trust Him. One day He will right all the wrongs. Is He able to do that? Review your list of God's characteristics and His ways. Lesson 26 Before you begin, ask the Lord to give you eyes to see truth, ears to hear truth, and a heart to perceive truth. Read Psalm 37: What do these verses say? The steps of a man are established by the Lord and He delights in his way. Verse 23 says, Though he stumbles, he will never fall, for the Lord holds him by the hand. See also Isaiah 41:10. That God holds us means that though we will face hardships God is with us in every situation. Even if we don t sense His presence we must trust His

8 Word, I will never leave you or forsake you, Hebrews 13:5. Psalm 37:25, I have been young but now I am old; Yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread. God will take care of you. All that He allows He uses for your greater good and His greater glory. See also Romans 8:28. Lesson 27 Pray and read Psalm 37: Add to your list what you learn about the Lord. What do you learn about the righteous in this passage? Does your tongue speak justice? Talk to the Lord about these things. What are you told to do in verse 34? This is what you do when you don't know what to do. How many heartaches and troubles could be avoided if we just put this verse into practice. Take courage today. You are not alone. Wait on the Lord, and in the meantime, keep His ways. One day you will be able to see the way, and then you will be able to see that goodness and mercy were following you all along. Lesson 28 Ask the Lord to open your eyes to His truth today. Read Psalm 37: List what you learn about the Lord. Have you seen these truths in other Psalms? This is not an accident. The Lord repeats these things because He so wants you to believe them. What happens to the violent or wicked man? What happens to the blameless or righteous man? Spend some time today thanking God for the righteousness that is yours through Jesus Christ. Lesson 29 Pray before you begin. Read Psalm 63:1-5. Now read I Samuel 23:14 so you will understand when David wrote this Psalm. Go back to Psalm 63 and take notice of David's attitude toward God. How would you describe it? What are some of the things that he does? Have you developed a thirst for God? It has been our prayer that as you begin to get to know God and His ways through His Word and you begin to communicate with Him through prayer, you will have a hunger and a thirst for Him that only can be satisfied through His Word. Look at the Lord today. See His power and His glory. Realize today that His loving kindness is better than your very life. Praise Him with your joyful lips! Lesson 30 Begin your time with the Lord as you are accustomed to, faithful one. Read Psalm 63:6-11. Do you remember what you learned yesterday about what was going on in David's life when he wrote this Psalm? Again, what are some of the things that David does? What does God do? The next time you wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep, don't look at the clock and moan. Remember verse 6 and try it. Remember everything that God Himself has taught you these past 30 days. Cling to those truths like a waistband

9 clings to the waist. How much safer can you be than under the shadow of His wings! Don't stop. You can do this now on your own. If you need some help, feel free to contact the Prayer Team at Stonegate.