I once told a mentor of mine that I was planning to follow his example and begin using the Psalms every day to inform and inspire my praying. I'll never forget his reaction. This godly man leaned forward over the table, looked with piercing love into my eyes, and said with conviction, "Jimmy, if you use the Psalms for prayer every day, it will change your life!" (Even now I get goosebumps replaying that scene in my mind.)
It's been 15 years since that conversation, and though I have much to learn about praying the Psalms, and am still stumbling toward consistent, daily practice, I can say that my life has been shaped by using the Psalms in prayer. I've had days and weeks and months when the only part of the Bible I had the strength to turn to were my daily Psalms. Those were days when Psalm 119:25 was my heart's cry: "My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to Your word!" And He did, He gave me life from His Psalms.
My mentor was right. I can say that my life has been changed by the Psalms. And I'm reluctant to say it, because I've certainly not turned into some super saint (just ask my wife and kids!). But I can say that my mind, heart, and prayers have been slowly but surely shaped by God's prayer book. The prayers of David, Asaph, the Sons of Korah, Solomon, and others have given me words and emotions for expressing my heart to God that I might not otherwise have.
Would you like to learn a bit about using the Psalms for prayer? Join us in Adult Sunday School at 9am beginning April 15th, and we'll practice together 6 different ways to use the Psalms in prayer. We'll spend approximately the first half of each class doing a mini-study on a Psalm, then we'll practice using that Psalm in prayer for the rest of the class. We'd love to have you join us!