Praying with the Psalms

By Andrew McDonald

Over the past year I have conducted an experiment of praying the psalms on the thirty day cycle as often practiced in the Anglican tradition. It’s strange that it took me so long to get around to such a regular practice because it is something that I wanted to do in some shape or form for the past eight years. At this stage I simply speak the psalms out loud within the structure of a streamlined morning and evening prayer liturgy. I hope to soon develop the practice of chanting as a growing number of people seem to be doing.

“by immersing myself into a narrative world where God is possible, God somehow becomes possible in the world I live”

However, for now I am aware there is a significant difference made to my both my outward existence and inner awareness as a result of a morning and evening sojourn in the world of biblical prayer and narrative. Of course you might ask my wife and children to confirm or deny this observation! If asked to describe the difference praying the psalms has made I would say that by immersing myself into a narrative world where God is possible, God somehow becomes possible in the world I live. When the possibility of God begins to shape my being an entire world of unexpected relationships, of prayer, of confession, of releasing my own innermost tensions and fears, of forgiveness and of liberation opens expansively before me. In contrast, when I cease to be shaped by such Godward possibility I become a much withdrawn, tense and reduced version of myself!

There is more to it than this though. It is as if in praying the psalms I begin to embody something resonating with more life, dignity and power. Could this experience correspond to the Psalmist’s prayers?

Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
on a level path. (Psalm 143.10)

Well I can’t say for sure, but there is more ground under my feet when I pray the psalms as well as the possibilty of more searching, honest and all encompassing prayer. Of course there are numerous points of resistance in the psalms; points of violence (either real or imagined), points of ethnic and national supremacy. I once had a book of psalms returned to me by an angry friend offended that I had thought of giving him such an offensive and ‘unspiritual’ gift! Well I didn’t have the words to respond his indignation, but perhaps in praying through the unrelsoved and unremittent violence of the psalms we can give voice to the darker shadowside of our own existence and in the process become more integrated and accepting individuals.

If you pray or chant the psalms and would be happy to share your experiences with me please leave a comment. I value the possibility of sharing this journey with others who like me are just starting out, or those who are veteran ‘beginners’.