I grew up in a Christian home. I have attended Bible class from the time I was in diapers. One of the primary skills I use in my job is talking, uninterrupted, for 20 – 30 minutes each week (some of you wish it were closer to 20!). Like so many of you, I struggle with something that seems like it ought to be easy: prayer. God is no stranger in my life. Talking usually comes pretty easily for me. Why is it so hard for me to talk to God?
When I feel like I want to learn how to do something, I typically track down a book or two on the subject, read, and then apply what I’ve learned. Several years ago I compiled a list of books on prayer, all of which came highly recommended. I read my way through the list, hoping to find the “secret sauce” on prayer. I learned quite a lot, but I can’t say I incorporated much of what I learned into my prayer practices.
Can I recommend a book that will help your prayer life? It’s a timeless classic, and I believe you probably already have a copy or two of it on hand. Yes, it’s the Bible. In particular, it is the Psalter. Some have called the book of Psalms “the Hymn Book of Israel,” while others have said it is Israel’s prayer book. I suppose both are true in a sense.
Here’s something unique about the Psalms. While the rest of the Scripture addresses people, the Psalter addresses God. The psalmists speak to God. When we read and meditate on the Psalms, we learn the language of prayer from our ancestors in the faith. We learn how to pray from David, a man after God’s own heart. The Sons of Asaph, those men whom God commissioned to lead worship in the temple, teach us to pray.
Next time prayer feels cold or stale, open your Bible to the Psalms and use the outline of a psalm to guide the thoughts you lift to the Father. Your prayers will come alive!
Clay Leonard