The Psalms were expressions of a person’s heart towards God. Because they are so honest and often filled with strong emotion, they have for millennia helped readers connect more honestly with God.
In this exercise, you will allow the Psalms to help you connect more closely with God today, first by reading, and then by writing your own Psalm using the fill-in-the-blank template, or, if you’re feeling really inspired, writing your own from scratch.
First, read Psalm below. As you read, try to get in touch with the emotion being expressed. How would you describe it? How does it compare to what you are feeling at this moment? What word or phrase really catches your attention? Why?
PSALM 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Now, try your hand at writing your own Psalm. This will allow you to draw closer to God by expressing your own heart towards God and not just being moved by the expressions of someone else’s heart.
If you’re not sure how to get started, finish the Psalm that has been started for you below. Once you are feeling comfortable, try your hand at writing something from scratch. It does not need to rhyme, it just needs to be an honest expression of your heart and your heart’s desire towards God.
When you are done writing, turn your reflections into a short prayer, expressing the thoughts and emotions inspired by your reading and writing.
Please share your Psalm with us
by emailing it to
1730PGCCoffice@gmail.com
. We’d love to share them anonymously in an upcoming Good Morning email.
My Psalm
You are my source and my refuge, O Lord. Who can compare with you? You are ____________________________________, and I praise your Holy name.
I have seen the beauty of your work in _______________________________ and _____________________________________________, and I lift my thanks to you. You have blessed me, in my making, with gifts of ________________________ and _________________________, and through your love you help me to __________________________________.
I bow before you in gratitude.
When I leave this mountaintop and go about my daily tasks, great or small, I will look for signs of your providence. As I fulfill duties I enjoy, such as ____________________________ and ______________________________, I will know you are with me.
When I struggle with difficult and unpleasant circumstances such as ______________________________________________________________, I will try to sense your presence even there.
And now, I ask you to ____________________________________________, and I commit to you my _______________________________________. You, alone, are my strength, my ultimate solace, my guide. You, alone, can
__________________________________________. You alone are my God.
Amen and Amen.
