Psalm Writing IV: Prayer to Psalm
“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm..." ~ 1 Corinthians 14:26 NKJV
My heart cries out for You, oh Lord! My mind rests on You, oh Lord!
For each prayer that comes from Your Spirit, may it be proclaimed in song!
How Your Spirit flows to write such psalms is a mystery waiting to unfold!
Welcome back to the Disciple’s Prayers: Psalm Writing Workshop!
Our final Focus today is on making the shift from Prayers to Psalms…
“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” ~ 1 Corinthians 14:26
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” ~ Psalms 139:14
If you have yet to write down a psalm from the Book of Psalms, please stop reading here and find one that you know speaks to your relationship with God right now. Posture your heart and pray over it as you write it!
And if you have done so already, re-read what you just wrote down and settle your mind in what the psalmist was sharing at the time.
As we enter into this new week for this workshop, it’s important to remember that the Book of Psalms are not only prayers but prophetic in their spiritual nature. They give glory to God, they pour out their hearts to God, they worship God, and in all ways, they come back to a relationship with God!
David, who wrote many psalms in the Book, wrote them when being chased by King Saul. David was in constant distress during this time because his king, who he knew God had anointed, even though he was now anointed, was out to kill him. But still, David loved the king because he loved God.
The reason for writing a psalm is not just to share your deepest prayers of worship with others, but to deepen your relationship with God!
Where to begin…
As you look at a blank sheet of paper or a blank page and might feel overwhelmed with the concept of writing a psalm, sit in that feeling for a moment.
Pray this out loud or in your head:
Heavenly Father,
With Your Holy Spirit, I ask You to reveal in me the words of a psalm. Move now in Your vessel to write in worship for You.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Now, whatever is on your mind is what you will focus on. This could be something that brings you sorrow. This could be something that brings you joy. You might be thankful for something great, or you might be discouraged by a great loss in your life.
Whatever those thoughts are leading you towards, they are deep prayers. That’s what you’ll write first. Just as I wrote the prayer above, write out a prayer to the Lord now regarding those feelings that you have.
Once you finish writing that prayer, move on to the next step…
Prayer to Scripture
With that same prayer that you just wrote, I’d like you to extract a word that summarizes the essence of your prayer. It could be melancholy, dread, anguish, thanksgiving, life, love, perseverance, or anything that really encapsulates what you’re feeling.
Once you have that word, I’d like you to pull out a Bible app or the internet, and find the search button. Type in that word and see what verses pop up for you throughout the Bible.
As you choose a verse, hold on to that verse and write it out. Then move on to the next step…
Scripture to Worship
Now, with that verse, you are going to pray again on it. On that verse, on that word, on your prayer that you wrote out, and pray again that the Holy Spirit reveals in you words of worship to Him.
Bring the prayer back to thanking God. For this is His will:
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
In all circumstances, give thanks to God. This is exemplified throughout the Book of Psalms. Even in Psalms of pain and sorrow, they give thanks to God.
With your prayer, if any song of worship comes to mind, sing it! If any more verses come to mind, read them. Let the flow of God pour out of you!
And finally, the last step…
Worship to Psalm
In this time of worship, use it to write out poetic stanzas. It doesn’t need rhyme, it doesn’t need to be pretty, but it should come from all the steps that you’ve done.
Let it tell the story, and write it like a letter to the Lord. Use words that come from the Book of Psalms, from God’s Holy Scripture. Even quote the verse in the midst of it!
Once you finish, read over it and thank the Holy Spirit. It should feel raw and passionate to start. But now, the more you do this, the greater that flow will come out of you.
Use this as a way to worship and pray. Use this as a way to give glory. Use this as a way to build upon His Kingdom!
And thank you for joining me in this workshop. Below is my psalm for you and Him, and my hope for what will be a wave of new psalmists in His Kingdom!
Your Psalm
“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” ~ 1 Corinthians 14:26
By His name, we ask for guidance. By His name, we ask for purpose.
But how shall we proceed when our heart is challenged?
How do I praise You in the gifts I’ve been given? How do I worship You deeper in my mind?
I shall use my hand to write all my thoughts, for it is in them that I share Your image.
From You flows out the rush of joy. From You flows out the stillness of peace.
Where shall these rivers pave the way for Your living water to quench our thirst? How shall You flow to water the seeds for growth?
My heart cries out for You, oh Lord! My mind rests on You, oh Lord!
For each prayer that comes from Your Spirit, may it be proclaimed in song!
How Your Spirit flows to write such psalms is revealed in You all along!