A Trellis for Prayer in 2024
Are you looking for a fresh way to engage with the full dimensions of the psalms as you begin a new year? If so, I want to introduce you to a powerful prayer practice that integrates the Psalms with the six priorities of Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6:9-13). I encourage you to give it a ‘test drive’ for 3-4 weeks…
Sundays- Begin your week focusing on the Father’s PRAISE (“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name”). Related psalms of praise: Psalm 33, Psalm 65, Psalm 67, Psalm 95, Psalm 100, Psalm 103, Psalm 111, Psalm 113, Psalm 117, Psalm 134, Psalm 146, Psalm 147, Psalm 148, Psalm 149, and Psalm 150.
Mondays- Focus on the Father’s PURPOSE (“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”). Related psalms: Enthronement psalms- Psalm 2, Psalm 24, Psalm 29, Psalm 47, Psalm 68, Psalm 93, Psalm 96, Psalm 97, Psalm 98, Psalm 99, and Psalm 110; Wisdom psalms- Psalm 1, Psalm 14, Psalm 15, Psalm 19, Psalm 37, Psalm 49, Psalm 50, Psalm 90, Psalm 112, Psalm 115, Psalm 127, Psalm 128, and Psalm 133.
Tuesdays- Focus on the Father’s PROVISION (“Give us today our daily bread”). Related psalms of Creation- Psalm 8, Psalm 19, Psalm 24, Psalm 29, Psalm 49, Psalm 65, Psalm 90, Psalm 98, Psalm 104, Psalm 111, Psalm 121, Psalm 139, Psalm 147, and Psalm 148.
Wednesdays- Focus on the Father’s PARDON (“And forgive us our sins, as we also have forgiven those who sin against us”). Related psalms of confession: Psalm 6, Psalm 15, Psalm 25, Psalm 32, Psalm 38, Psalm 51, Psalm 86, Psalm 130, and Psalm 143; Reconciliation psalm: Psalm 133.
Thursdays- Focus on the Father’s PROTECTION (“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”). Related help (lament) psalms- Psalm 5, Psalm 12, Psalm 13, Psalm 17, Psalm 22, Psalm 31, Psalm 41, Psalm 42, Psalm 43, Psalm 44, Psalm 57, Psalm 60, Psalm 69, Psalm 70, Psalm 74, Psalm 77, Psalm 79, Psalm 80, Psalm 85, Psalm 88, Psalm 94, Psalm 102, Psalm 123, Psalm 140, Psalm 141, Psalm 142; Cursing psalms (used by Christians vs. spiritual evil): Psalm 7, Psalm 10, Psalm 35, Psalm 52, Psalm 53, Psalm 55, Psalm 58, Psalm 59, Psalm 64, Psalm 69, Psalm 83, Psalm 109; Psalm 120, Psalm 129, and Psalm 137.
Fridays- Conclude the week focusing on the Father’s PROMISE (“For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen”). Related psalms: Psalms of thanksgiving- Psalm 18, Psalm 30, Psalm 34, Psalm 92, Psalm 107, Psalm 116, Psalm 118, Psalm 124, Psalm 126, and Psalm 138; Psalms of trust - Psalm 3, Psalm 4, Psalm 9, Psalm 11, Psalm 16, Psalm 20, Psalm 23, Psalm 27, Psalm 40, Psalm 46, Psalm 54, Psalm 56, Psalm 62, Psalm 63, Psalm 66, Psalm 71, Psalm 75, Psalm 84, Psalm 91, Psalm 108, Psalm 121, Psalm 125, Psalm 131, Psalm 138, and Psalm 144.
Saturdays- A day to reflect on the week and catch up.
For a downloadable guide to the Lord’s Prayer and Psalms click HERE. (Please note- not all psalms fit neatly into the above categories. Many express two or more of the priorities of Jesus)
It is clear that Jesus built his own prayers on the Hebrew psalms, Israel’s ancient book of prayer. His entire ministry is essentially an answer to the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus revealed the goodness of Father’s name. Jesus brought the Father’s kingdom ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’ Jesus accomplished the Father’s will and purpose. Jesus brought the Father’s provision, pardon, reconciliation, protection and hope. And Jesus longs that his people, as his community of disciples, would together become a living answer to these prayers in this dark and broken world.
For centuries, Christians around the world have been using the Psalms and the Lord’s Prayer to build a life of prayer. There are so many things that seem to divide believers and churches. These ancient prayers unite the whole church, regardless of race, culture, tradition, denomination, or worship style. The whole church is included in the “OUR” of “Our Father...” When your pray these prayers, you are not alone!
This is an invitation to build a prayer trellis in 2024. The Lord’s Prayer was never meant to be used as a script to be mindlessly repeated by rote. Rather, the Lord’s Prayer is a trellis. I believe Jesus intended that we take the six petitions of the Lord’s Prayer and grow a whole life of prayer on them, as a vine grows on the structure of a trellis, or as a jazz artist creates improvisational music on the structure of a chord progression.
One of the best ways to grow a life of prayer is to practice praying the psalms onto the trellis of the Lord’s Prayer.
