On most days* this Lent, I'll post a psalm here and invite you to pray it in the spirit of St. Bernard's words above. St. Bernard invites us to keep God's word in our hearts... to let it enter our very being... to feed on its goodness...
How to do that? Here's a simple way.
• Find some quiet time and relax... be aware of God's presence... ask the Holy Spirit to help you to pray...
• Pray through the Psalm 25 (below) slowly... (Some words, phrases or verses may be unfamiliar or difficult to understand. Don't worry about those now- this is a time for prayer, not for bible study)
• Reflect on the psalm you've just prayed... how does it speak to what's in your heart today?
• Now, go back and pray through the psalm again... Keep an eye out for a verse that catches your attention... a verse that particularly challenges or comforts you... a verse you might want to keep in your heart for the day... a verse you'd invite to enter your very being... a verse whose goodness would be food to nourish you all day long...
• Now, close your eyes and just spend some time slowly repeating that verse, perhaps out loud, perhaps in a whisper, perhaps in silence... let that verse become a part of you... hide that verse in your heart... take delight in this verse as the word that God has spoken and given to you for your prayer this day...
• Yes, hide the word, the verse, in your heart -- but you might also write it out on a piece of paper (or in a small notebook, on an index card, or on a Post-it) and put it in your pocket or a place where you'll easily find it...
• Let this word God has spoken and given to you be your prayer, your mantra, for the day... Ask the Lord to help you remember the verse you've hidden in your heart and to bring it back to you during the day... Repeat it several times whenever it comes to mind... Refer to your written copy as a reminder... Let the verse come back to you through the day as people, places and events remind you of it... If you keep the word of God in this way, it will also keep you...
I encourage you to give this method of prayer at least a few days. I know that it's a way of praying that's been very helpful in my spiritual life and I trust it will benefit you, too. After a few days, you'll become more accustomed to finding the words the Lord is speaking to you, hiding them in your heart,
and finding them again as the day goes on... You might want to keep a little log of the verses that stay with you: that can be helpful in recalling them or looking, later, for a verse to keep in your heart, that it might keep you in the Lord's embrace...
Psalm 25
I trust you, God;
do not fail me,
nor let my enemies gloat.
No one loyal is shamed,
but traitors know disgrace.
Teach me how to live,
Lord, show me the way.
Steer me toward your truth,
you, my saving God,
you, my constant hope.
Recall you tenderness,
your lasting love.
Remember, not my faults,
the sins of my youth.
To show your own goodness,
God, remember me.
Good and just is the Lord,
guiding those who stray.
God leads the poor,
pointing out the path.
God's ways are faithful love
for those who keep the covenant.
Be true to your name, O Lord,
forgive my sin, though great.
Do you respect God?
Then God will guide your choice.
Your life will be full,
your heirs will keep the land.
God befriends the faithful,
teaches them the covenant.
I keep looking to God
to spring me from this trap.
Turn, treat me as your friend,
I am empty and poor.
Release my trapped heart,
free me from my anguish.
See my misery, my pain,
take my sins away.
See how they mob me,
this crowd that hates me.
Protect me and save my life.
Keep me from disgrace,
for I take shelter in you.
Let integrity stand guard
as I wait for you.
Free Israel, O God,
from all its troubles.
No heart is never too old
to learn to follow the path of Jesus
more closely, more faithfully...
No heart is ever too learned
to discern the depths of God's truth,
especially in the Word...
No heart is ever too cold
to be warmed by the fire
of the Spirit whose counsel is wisdom...
Prayer
I return to you today, Lord,
with the school room of my heart
ready to welcome you as my teacher...
Erase from my heart
my sins and failings
and wash me clean with your mercy...
Write on my heart the name
by which you know me
and call on me, by name...
School me in your ways:
train my heart to listen for your word,
to study your truth, to learn your wisdom...
Call on me to recite your praises
and remind my heart of all the joys
for which I should be grateful...
Test my heart's strength
with the weight of your grace
and the fullness of your peace...
Examine my heart, Lord:
lift up my faithfulness
and correct my failings...
Make me your student:
a disciple in the ways of justice,
walking the path of your peace...
I trust you, Lord,
and pray you will trust me
to return to you this Lent, day by day,
with my whole heart...
Subscribe to A Concord Pastor Comments
In your Daily Prayer in Lent for yesterday, Ash Wednesday, I found too many verses that caught my attention and challenged me-
ReplyDeletebut today, there was just one.
"Teach me how to live,
Lord, show me the way."
yes, that is it. In the deepest, most complicated, and also most basic way.
That is where I am.
thank you for doing these daily prayers this Lent- it is helpful to me in these first two days-