Praying the Psalms: Psalm 1

After listening to the Dear Daughters podcast episode entitled 'Praying for Yourself' I decided to follow the advice from Will Davis Jr. to use the Psalms to pray Scripture for myself. I've admitted recently that my prayer life isn't great. I also don't feel that I'm 'good at praying', although I don't know what I mean by that entirely. So I'm taking up the challenge to pray the psalms for myself and my family. While I dig a little deeper into prayer, I think it's a good pattern to follow until I'm better at praying what I need to pray.

So, as Will Davis Jr. said, 'Start in psalm 1'. Will you join me? For your convenience I'll put it right here and you can read and pray it along with me.

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take* or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.** 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season*** and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

(Psalm 1, NIV).

Father God, I ask that You help me to walk in step with You. To find good and faithful friends who will guide me to You and encourage my walk with You. Help me, Father to find time for Your Word and to find lasting joy in it. Help me to be strong in You and to bear the fruit of the Spirit for Your glory. Allow me, Father to be in the assembly of the righteous. Watch over my way. Let me walk in Your righteousness. I ask in Jesus' name, Amen.

N.

Questions for reflection and discussion inspired by the text.

* Where do you turn for advice?

** Are you reading God's Word daily? What are you finding in it? (Colossians 2:7)

*** Is there anything in your life that you are trying to rush through or towards? Why do you think that is? (John 15:1-8)