Praying the Psalms
If you haven't read Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer then you must move it to the top of your list ASAP. I've read it 3 or 4 times and each time I'm deeply moved. I recently read it again and was encouraged to renew my practice of praying the Psalms. I find very few things as spiritually enriching and challenging as praying the Psalms.
If you would consider trying this...and I HIGHLY recommend it, then go read this article by Tim Keller. It has a 30 day calendar at the bottom. I challenge you to try this for thirty days, and, like me, I think you will find that praying the Psalms will become a permanent part of your spiritual life.
Read the article here (http://www.redeemer.com/connect/prayer/praying_psalms.html).
One note, the article suggests reading a commentary on the Psalm you pray. I don't do that since I don't have a good commentary on the Psalms and too often that turns to "Bible Study" for me. So, you might want to skip that suggestion. Just a thought.
fr'nklin
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I've been praying the psalms for about 15 months now doing fixed hour prayer. Somewhere between 3 and 6 times each day (depending on what life is handing me that day) I get a chance to pray through words recorded long ago. It gives new language to a prayer life outside of "keep me safe and warm and help my sister's neighbor's boss's daughter who has cancer."
You know, reading Bonhoeffer has just taken me back to the simplicity and emotional depth of the Psalms. They say it all...they are the prayers of Christ and I pray them with Him and with you and with all the church.
I hope you're well. Peace.
The BDP has a great wealth of readings for Vigils and I prefer their prayers/intercessions but the SCP/DP have a broader sampling of the Psalms which is what I really prefer.
But the Psalms can be troublesome. There are many petitions for protection against/curses called down upon enemies. There is a lot of war-like language that is difficult to pray--both as a sinner in the process of sanctification and as a Westerner couched in plenty/safety,
That we can put these prayers on the lips of Jesus and they make sense. This is (partly) what he thinks it means to pray in Jesus name. We pray the prayers of Jesus with Jesus and with one another. The prayers become our own in that we are one with him and one with each other in him.
I still struggle with this but I find his thoughts helpful.
His insight is really good, though.
It's generally pretty easy to place the Psalms on Jesus lips. The hard part is, as I listen to him pray those words, to look at the thoughts which fill my own head. Probably the best thing I've done recently is to start praying at 9:00, noon and 3:00 during work. Nothing places things in perspective like hearing a True heart. I always come out of my "prayer stall" refreshed.