Start at the Beginning
While there are other reasons to
read Psalms daily, I want to bring this to a close. Perhaps I’ll circle back
later and share some thoughts on how to read Psalms, and include another reason
or two to read them, but I want to wrap this up so I can share it as we move
toward the beginning of a new year.
For now I’ll encourage you to
read Psalms in expectation that you will see the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, and that God will speak to you. Look at Psalms as a place to meet God
personally, to get to know Him more intimately, and a place where, in the
Presence of Christ, you get to know yourself better. When you see things in
yourself that you don’t care for, trust God to cleanse you and to form you into
the image of Jesus Christ – trust your Father to bring you along in His love
and grace…He always wants the best for you.
The important thing is to begin
and to be consistent. If you begin with Psalm 1 and read one psalm a day, you
will have gone through Psalms about two times during the year. You may find
that some psalms are a bit long for one reading, in that case break them up.
However, when you do this make sure to go back and review the structure and
theme(s) of the entire psalm, it will help you see things you may otherwise
miss. The important focus is to meet God, to touch God and to be touched by God
as He comes to you through His Word and His Holy Spirit.
You will find that certain
sections of Psalms have particular themes, that while all psalms stand alone,
that they are also related to each other, that they connect – this is for you
to discover and enjoy.
The Book of Common Prayer takes
us through the entire book of Psalms every month. I used to read five psalms a
day on a schedule that began 1,31, 61, 91, 121. This kept me in five different
sections of Psalms throughout the month; this is also the way I read the Bible,
reading in different sections as the same time – it helps me maintain a sense
of connectivity and an overview of Scripture. I have done this as long as I can
remember.
Presently I read two psalms a day
for two months, and then one psalm a day in the third month of the quarter;
this takes me through Psalms four times during the year. On January 1 I’ll
start with Psalm 1 and Psalm 31, then on February 1 it will be Psalm 61 and
Psalm 91, and then on March 1 it will be Psalm 121. On April 1 I’ll start the
journey again.
As you work with Psalms every day
you will discover your own rhythms and patterns; I’ve changed mine more than
once and may change them again, however, I do have base principles woven into
my heart and mind and soul…always looking for Jesus, always wanting to touch
Him and be touched by Him.
Why should we read Psalms every
day?
So that we may know Jesus
Christ…and make Him known; so that His Presence may be in our lives, and
through us that His Presence will touch others.
On January 1…Psalm 1 is waiting
with your name on it.
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