Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Early in the month of August I attempted to show how you can pray the Bible for your fellow members. Here, I want to attempt to show how you can pray the Bible for your own soul. Over the past week I’ve been praying Psalm 84 for my own soul (and for the congregation), and it strikes me that this is a particularly good Psalm to pray if you are ever feeling cold toward the Lord. Here’s Psalm 84:

TO THE CHOIRMASTER: ACCORDING TO THE GITTITH.
A PSALM OF THE SONS OF KORAH.

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. 8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah 9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! 10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

There are many ways you could pray through each verse of this Psalm, but let me just provide you with an example of what I have prayed for my own soul. I hope that it will be of help to you, and you can even offer these same prayers to God if you find them helpful.

Verse 1 – Lord, help me to remember, believe, and feel that I need you to dwell with me.
Verse 2 – Lord, cause my heart to long for you.
Verse 3 – Lord, lead me to submit to you as my King and worship you as my God.
Verse 4 – Lord, help me to sing your praise today.
Verse 5 – Lord help me to find my strength in you, and not in myself.
Verse 6 – Lord, walk with me in valleys and seasons of dryness.
Verse 7 – Lord, help me to make home to heaven (Zion).
Verse 8 – Lord, hear and answer these requests for my good and your glory in my life.
Verse 9 – Lord, help me to see your anointed one (Jesus) as my shield and defender.
Verse 10 – Lord, cause my longings for heaven to be greater than the joys of earth.
Verse 11 – Lord, give me the strength and grace to walk uprightly before you.
Verse 12 – Lord, by the power of your Spirit, cause my trust to be in you and your Son.

In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

Warmly in Christ,
Mike