The Psalms are the poetry of the passions, the songs of the Jesus. For nearly three thousand years God’s people have used the Psalms as daily devotionals; these one hundred and fifty poetic stories are replete with meaning to shape our loves, voice our cries, mold our desires, and reveal the beauty of Jesus’ work for us. Until the late 19th century memorization of the Psalms was a requirement for monastic life and ministerial ordination. They were a fixed part of the curriculum of the Latin grammar school. Indeed, the phrase “psalteriam dicere” became a synonym for early education. Augustine quoted the Psalms as he died. Jesus did too.

This summer give yourselves permission to stop and meditate on the truth of God through the Songs of Jesus. This July and August we will explore the Psalms together in corporate worship. Many of us have read the Psalms but rarely have we meditated upon them. Practicing prayerful meditation on God’s Word will prepare us to respond in faith and repentance during Sunday worship.

At worship you can pick up a copy of our summer Psalms exercises.  Resist the temptation to rush through these devotionals. Go slow. Let the Psalms soak into your soul and offer comfort. Let them regulate you back to spiritual health. These rhythms of grace and beauty, death and sadness, struggle and hope give us a framework of dealing with these realities in our own lives.

We will be using the Psalms to learn an ancient way of prayer in the church called lectio divina. Each day you will prayer through a Psalm using seven steps of meditation. Learning to pray this way will help you experience how much your Father in Heaven delights in you. As you pray in this way, my chief prayer is that you will enjoy the fellowship of your Savior who dearly loves you.

I look forward to meditating on the Songs of Jesus with you.
Yours in Christ Jesus,

Pastor Blake