Day 20: Prayer as Lament
As you begin to spend time with God, settle yourself somewhere quiet and comfortable. Take a few deep breaths. Spend a few moments gathering your thoughts, becoming aware of God’s presence with you and in you.
Journal for 5 minutes on yesterday’s experiment of contemplative prayer. What did you notice and learn? What challenged you? Did God say anything to you throughout the day?
Then, begin today’s devotional.
Read: Psalm 5
Jesus told us that we would have trouble, but that He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Yet, He was known as a “man of sorrows” (Isaiah 53:1). Jesus was also a man of prayer and like other Jews of His day, would have known the Psalms—not just as Bible, but as places in which to undertake the hard work of prayer.
We do not do this work of prayer alone. I’m not speaking now of getting together with a friend to pray. I’m speaking of using the words of the Psalms as your own prayer words. Words that get you oriented, point the way, then help you take those first, sometimes difficult and shaky steps toward God. Prayer before the Lord is never the place to show off with fancy words. Before the Lord you are laid bare. He knows your need even before you ask, but still, He commands you to ask! Surely this cannot be for His sake alone; it must also be for yours. You need to hear your own voice shaping and offering your words to him.
Understandably, we are happy when the words of our prayers are full of affirmation, gratitude, and light. But what happens when shadows fall and tears flow, when words fail and we are left with the weight of our own grief? What happens when the source of all this lies outside of us, when the pain is not a direct consequence of our own foolishness or disobedience? Certainly this was the case with our Lord Jesus, who was never at fault, yet suffered not only in life but also in an early death. Have you noticed that when Jesus said His last words, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” He was reciting part of a psalm? (Ps. 31:5).
Prayer: Lord Jesus, in your loving arms I rest secure and worship you. Thank you for teaching me how to pray. Sometimes I doubt my own words, so please give me your words to express not only my pain but also my hope in God. Please help and protect me, but most of all, bring glory to Your great name. Amen.
Today’s Experiment: Are you or someone you know carrying a weight today? Try reading Psalm 5 or skim through the Psalms until you find one that stands out. Read it, reflect on it, and then prayerfully recite it before the Lord.
By Dr. Bob Stallman, Professor of Biblical Theology