Improving Your Prayer Life Through A Study Of The Psalter

How should we pray? Do we believe God answers our prayers? Is it acceptable to complain to God? Should we bargain with him to receive the response we desire? Why do we praise God? Does our praise make him any more “God”? John Calvin argued basically that the purpose of prayer is to realign the petitioner’s feelings and beliefs with God’s. Many today seem to have adopted this idea. One says, “Why pray at all. God knows everything so my prayers cannot change his mind. I must pray to discover God’s will for my life. I must realign my will with God’s will for my life.” In contrast, the psalmists assumed a reciprocal process. They believed they could bring pressures on God to answer their requests. They would bargain with God and promise him certain things if he would only grant their petitions. Indeed, this was part of the process. They would obligate themselves to praise God if he would grant their desires. Such bargaining was the foundation of their prayers. Comparisons of Calvin’s views with the psalmists’ allows the reader to investigate the nature of his or her prayer life and make improvements where necessary.

How should we pray? Do we believe God answers our prayers? Is it acceptable to complain to God? Should we bargain with him to receive the response we desire? Why do we praise God? Does our praise make him any more "God"? John Calvin argued basically that the purpose of prayer is to realign the petitioner's feelings and beliefs with God's. Many today seem to have adopted this idea. One says, "Why pray at all. God knows everything so my prayers cannot change his mind. I must pray to discover God's will for my life. I must realign my will with God's will for my life." In contrast, the psalmists assumed a reciprocal process. They believed they could bring pressures on God to answer their requests. They would bargain with God and promise him certain things if he would only grant their petitions. Indeed, this was part of the process. They would obligate themselves to praise God if he would grant their desires. Such bargaining was the foundation of their prayers. Comparisons of Calvin's views with the psalmists' allows the reader to investigate the nature of his or her prayer life and make improvements where necessary.

Renowned pastor and New York Times bestselling author of The Prodigal Prophet Timothy Keller explores the power of prayer. Christians are taught in their churches and schools that prayer is the most powerful way to experience God. But few receive instruction or guidance in how to make prayer genuinely meaningful. In Prayer, renowned pastor Timothy Keller delves into the many facets of this everyday act. With his trademark insights and energy, Keller offers biblical guidance as well as specific prayers for certain situations, such as dealing with grief, loss, love, and forgiveness. He discusses ways to make prayers more personal and powerful, and how to establish a practice of prayer that works for each reader. Dr. Keller’s previous books have sold more than one million copies. His Redeemer Presbyterian Church is not only a major presence in his home base of New York, it has also helped to launch more than two hundred fifty other churches in forty-eight cities around the world. His teachings have already helped millions, the majority of whom pray regularly. And with Prayer, he’ll show them how to find a deeper connection with God.

An easy-to-use psalter for daily prayer with the Psalms It was common practice among the early Christians to pray the entire Book of Psalms each month. This simple book offers you the opportunity to enter into this rewarding practice for daily prayer. The easy-to-follow organization, featuring the NIV text, will guide you through the entire Psalter every four weeks. You will come to know God as Friend, Shepherd, Defender, Father, Provider, Savior, and Lord, as you pray these words, allowing them to enter into your heart and life through faithful repetition and daily prayer.

Whether used for prayer, meditation, comfort, or study, the psalms offer powerful images of profound impact for the reader. Countless generations have been strengthened by these 150 songs of David. The small-sized volume fits easily into a jacket pocket, purse, or briefcase and would be ideal for devotional use, parish study groups, prison ministry, student groups, or home-bound visitations. This version has a ribbon marker and makes a thoughtful gift for recognition awards or confirmation. (273 pp)

Companion to the Psalter by Robert G. Beckstrand is a biblical theme book and devotional reading book to the Psalms. Here are some of the topics covered in this devotional reading guide: - A Brief Introduction and Devotional Guide to the Psalms - Devotional guide - Devotional reading - Commentaires on the book of Psalms - Book of Psalms - Biblical themes The Psalms are an essential element of corporate worship and devotional life -- but Robert Beckstrand believes that many Christians would profit immensely by spending more time with these ancient hymns and the deep well of comfort and wisdom they contain. Indeed, the Psalms are a marvelous spiritual resource through which the Holy Spirit * teaches us how to pray, * leads us to repentance, * anchors us in both realism and hope, * reveals the reality of exuberant joy in the Lord, and * gives us a richer understanding of God. The Companion to the Psalter provides a quick orientation to all 150 Psalms -- making it an excellent guide for anyone who wants to use the Psalms in their Bible study or daily devotions as well as a versatile reference for pastors in their homiletic preparation. Beckstrand treats each Psalm individually, offering an outline and brief commentary that explains key words and concepts as well as suggestions for reflection and a prayer. Additional material includes a chart dividing the psalms into key groupings plus an appendix showing how each psalm fits into the lectionary. With Companion to the Psalter at your fingertips, you'll be able to immerse yourself in the hymnal that Jesus used -- and therefore better understand our Lord Jesus Christ. Robert G. Beckstrand is a retired Lutheran pastor who served ELCA congregations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa during a half-century of ministry. He now resides in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Companion to the Psalter is a biblical theme book and devotional reading book and devotional reading guide to the Psalms.

From generation to generation, many Christians have adopted the habit of praying every month through all 150 psalms—songs that form the bedrock of both corporate worship and individual devotion. Through thousands of years of memorization, recitation, and singing, the people of God have found in this book a God-centered view of reality—words that put into perspective all our emotions, conflicting desires, times of suffering, and experiences of faith and doubt. In Psalms in 30 Days, Trevin Wax has adapted a centuries-old approach to reading the psalms by providing a "Morning," "Midday" and "Evening" pattern—following the Scriptural precedent for praying three times a day. This journey through the psalms, as translated in the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB), also features other songs from the Bible, as well as written prayers from faithful Christians who have gone before us. Here is a guide to praying all the psalms every month by—three times a day—lifting your eyes above your circumstances and reminding yourself that God is the blazing center of all things. Psalms in 30 Days features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB). The CSB stays as literal as possible to the Bible's original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture's life-transforming message and to share it with others.