Praying through the psalms
Series Overview: Praying Through the Psalms
What is this series?
Starting Sunday, we are starting a 5-week series in the book of Psalms. The book of
Psalms, a collection of songs, poems, and prayers offered to God by the nation of Israel, encapsulates the full spectrum of human emotions. Yet, they are all unified by one element: their focus on the one and only living God. This series will take 5 Psalms and use them as guides and templates for our personal prayer life, leading us to grow closer to this same God.
Series Schedule
June 30 - Psalm 34 - thanksgiving
July 7 - Psalm 42 - lament
July 14 - Psalm 51 - confession
July 21 - Psalm 93 - trust
July 28 - Psalm 103 - praise
Why this series now?
“We all have this in common: We want to talk to God.”1 We want to pray, but we don’t always know how to. So, we go to God’s word for guidance. David prayed the Psalms, Jesus prayed the Psalms, and now we pray the same Psalms Jesus did to grow close to him.2 The reason we are taking this approach is because we have been praying that Redemption North Mountain continues to be a “praying church”. And often, we need guidance with this essential discipline. "When it comes to prayer, we are all beginners.”3 So we go to God and his word for guidance and to help bring clarity to some questions we might have.
What kind of prayers are honoring to God?
How do I stay consistent in prayer?
How do I pray when I am suffering?
How do I pray without feeling guilt and shame?
How do I pray with confidence?
Integration in service
The best way to learn how to pray is to pray. We will be intentional during this series in integrating prayer into each Sunday. Here is how we plan to do so:
Prayer Prompts – We will have time during the service each Sunday to respond to the message through prayer prompts.
Prayer Space – Starting July 7, we will close the sanctuary from 8:30 to 8:50 AM so that it can function as a prayer space before service for anyone who wants to spend time with God.
24-Hour Prayer – We will end this season by focusing on prayer with a church-wide 24-hour prayer. We partner to take different time slots for continuous prayer to happen for 24 hours. This will happen August 10-11 and more information will come as the date approaches.
Recommended Resources
Psalms Summary - a quick 10-minute YouTube video
Praying Life – A book on prayer that will help you pray
1. The Secret to Prayer, Kyle Di Roberts
2. Psalms, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
3. St. Teresa of Avila
