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“Hallelujah!” has entered into English vocabulary and even non-religious people recognize it. It’s a way to celebrate and punctuate something. “Praise Yah!” (short for Yahweh) is what it literally means and is more specific. It points us to God, the one we celebrate and praise. Psalm 150 concludes the book of Psalms with six powerful verses that tells us where, why, how and who should praise God. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are finishing season three and Psalm 150 takes us sky-high with praise to God! As the last of the "Hallelujah" psalms, it begins and ends with the Hebrew expression Hallelu-Yah or "praise Yah".God deserves all praise in all forms, so whether with percussion, strings or wind instruments, we lift up praise to God for his greatness and great works. Everything that has breath praises God! Psalm 150 uses some form of the Hebrew verb "to praise" (hallal) 13 times in 6 verses. Besides the opening and closing Hallelu-Yah, there are a large number of hallelu-hu ("praise him") and one hallelu-El ("praise God", v. 1). The entire psalm is a doxology or short song of praise to God. Raise up a shout of praise to God today and set an intention for how you will continue to use the Psalms to grow closer to God now that season three is over. We can't exhaust the riches in each part of scripture we cover, but you can go deeper into them on your own using our four step process. You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1.If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter or Instagram @WordofPrayer15 . Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Imagine we didn’t have language to communicate with. No words, no letters. Only noises, looks, body expressions, like charades—but all the time. If God didn’t use language, what would we know about him? How would we express ourselves to him? Psalm 145 lifts up praise to God and sums up so much that has come before it in the Psalms, leading us into the final movement of prayer--pure praise of God. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are nearly done with season three and we've prayed a wide selection of psalms trying to expand our vocabulary of prayer. We've noticed that the second half of Psalms has fewer laments and more praise songs and hymns. Psalm 145 is a high point, a kind of climax in Book 5 and really for the book of Psalms overall. God deserves all praise, and we marshall all our language to bless him, praise him, exalt and give thanks to him for who he is and all the mighty works he has done. Psalm 145 is special because its first and last verse uses the Hebrew word tehillah which means praise. It's the only psalm that is specifically called tehillah, and yet the plural form of this word (Tehillim) is the Hebrew title for the entire book of Psalms! Psalm 145 is also an acrostic psalm, the eighth and final one of the book of Psalms, so from A to Z (or aleph to taw) we get a comprehensive treatment of what praise is all about. The other acrostic psalms we've covered include Psalm 25, 111, 112, and 119. If you want to read the remaining acrostic psalms we didn't cover in season 3, check out Psalms 9, 10, 34 and 37. One feature of this psalm is the repeated use of the word "all", which is especially prominent in the second half of the prayer. God is good to all, and all beings are called on to give praise to God. Psalm 145:8 echoes a foundational verse from Exodus 34:6 in which God reveals his fundamental character. This is a good verse to meditate on. Other verses to meditate on or memorize include vv. 1-3, 5, 18 and 21. Choose one of more of these verses and let God work out its truth in your life. While we can't exhaust the riches in these verses, you can go deeper into them on your own using our four step process. The entire psalm is worth pondering and reading or listening to multiple times. You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1.If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter or Instagram @WordofPrayer15 . Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

We want to be known, to be heard, to be understood. Our biggest problem is we expect another flawed, broken human being to fully understand us when only God can. Psalm 139 celebrates the truth that God knows us completely and well, but it also wrestles with the implications of that in our lives. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are nearing the end of season three and we've prayed a lot of different psalms. Toward the end of the book there is a greater concentration of praise songs and hymns, and Psalm 139 is one of the most profound of those. God knows me and God is everywhere. These are great spiritual truths. But there are other realities in Psalm 139 that we might miss or wish to avoid. The 24 verses of Psalm 139 are divided into four sections with six verses each. The main idea of each section is stated up front in the first verse: vv. 1, 7, 13 and 19. If you read those, you'll get the overall sense of the entire psalm instead of seeing this as a random collection of inspirational verses with a weird ending you might want to avoid. Psalm 139 shows us how complete God's knowledge of us is and the instinctive reaction we might have to flee from him. But God's goodness and desire to bless us above everything else reassures us that being known by him isn't nearly as dangerous as trying to live life apart from him. There is also no neutral ground; it's worship or rebellion, and not serving God puts you in the camp of his enemies. Four verses from this psalm to meditate on at length are vv. 1, 14, 23 and 24. Choose one of more of these and let God work out its truth in your life. While we can't exhaust the riches in these verses, you can go deeper into them on your own using our four step process. You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1.If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter or Instagram @WordofPrayer15 . Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

I hate to wait. If I really want it, I want it right now. God’s sense of timing sometimes frustrates me, which is why I have to learn to ask, trust and hope while I grow in my understanding of his will and his ways. Psalm 130 gives me language in prayer to call on God, trust in him, hope and declare the certainty that he will put things right for me and for the world.If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We've prayed through Psalm 119, the longest psalm of the Bible within Book 5 (Psalms 107-150). We continue through the Songs of Ascent, the collection of short pilgrim songs for those going up to the temple and we'll listen to Psalm 130.The eight verses of Psalm 130 work progressively to take us from the dark pit of despair and sin to confident hope in God's deliverance.Psalm 130 is one of the 7 penitential psalms used in the Christian Church during Lent, the 40 days of preparation before Easter. The penitential psalms include Psalm 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143. We've covered several of these on First Fifteen.What truth do you need to repeat or demonstrate today? We can't exhaust the riches that are in these verses, but you can go deeper into them on your own using our four step process. You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1.If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Where do we look for help? In most situations, where do you turn for help? Psalm 121 begins by asking where we look for help and then affirming our protection, our keeper and watcher is God alone.If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We've been praying through Psalm 119, the longest psalm of the Bible within Book 5 (Psalms 107-150). Today we start the Songs of Ascent, the collection of short pilgrim songs for those going up to the temple and we'll listen to Psalm 121.The word shamar is repeated 6 times in these 8 verses, and it emphasizes the fact that God watches over us, keeps us and protects us. What truth do you need to repeat or demonstrate today? We can't exhaust the riches that are in these verses, but you can go deeper into them on your own using our four step process. You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1.If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

When you look back on a journey, it often gives you a very different perspective from the one you had during the trip. That’s also what meditation is like: you get to reflect on what you experienced and engage with it on a deeper level. Psalm 119 keeps paying rich rewards the more you reflect on it and give it your attention. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We've prayed through Psalm 119, the longest psalm of the Bible, which is an acrostic poem structured after the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. We have listened to one or two stanzas at a time (8 verses each), and we have given attention to most of the stanzas. In this episode we listen to the first and last verse of each stanza--44 verses in all--and give attention to all the themes featured throughout Psalm 119. The first verse usually states the theme and the last verse recaps it in a heightened way and often transitions to the next thought. For application, write out one stanza (8 verses) of Psalm 119 today, and you'll be able to see more connections and reflect better on what God is saying. After you've written out a stanza, use one verse from that section to meditate on throughout the day. We can't exhaust the riches that are in these verses, but you can go deeper into them on your own using our four step process. You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. We also have the original translation of these 44 verses we will share with you as well as a free booklet "77 Wonderful Insights from Psalm 119." If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15 or like the Word of Prayer 15 page on Facebook. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

The last word usually leaves a lasting impression. It seems part of our design as human beings: we pay most attention to the first and the last thing more than the rest. We’ve come to the end of Psalm 119, and it’s time to hear the final word. Psalm 119:169-176 (Taw) is the last word and it returns us to our dependence on God, praising him and many of the great themes we've seen in this great psalm. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We've been praying through Psalm 119, the longest psalm of the Bible, which is an acrostic poem structured after the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. We have listened to one or two stanzas at a time (8 verses each), and today we focus on the last (22nd) stanza -- taw. The letter taw allows you to turn any verb into a wish if you put it on the front, so in six of the eight verses that's what happens. This stanza also has several expressions of praise, which is similar to how the book of Psalms itself ends—with a note of praise. IThis stanza also restates the themes we’ve been hearing throughout Psalm 119: the poet is looking for understanding, for deliverance and for new life. The emphasis is on how much we depend on God, for salvation, to teach us to praise, for life itself. The last verse likens us to a lost sheep who needs to be sought out and returned to the right way, the way we have set our hearts on: following God in all his words and teachings. Finish writing out one stanza (8 verses) of Psalm 119 each day, and you'll be able to see more connections and reflect better on what God is saying. After you've written out the stanza for the day, use one verse from that section to meditate on throughout the day. What petition do you need to make of God? Give me understanding, deliver me, or teach me to praise you? Make that your application today.We can't exhaust the riches that are in these verses, but you can go deeper into them on your own using our four step process. You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1.If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

To bring something back to life is a big deal. When we pray for revival, it’s because we have acknowledged death and the need for God’s spirit to bring life again. The cry “Revive me!” is a prayer that arises in desperation. Psalm 119:153-168 (Resh-Shin) focus on the God who sees us, revives us, and our response of rejoicing, praise and love to him. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We're praying through Psalm 119, the longest psalm of the Bible, and as an acrostic poem it is structured after the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. We are listening to one or two stanzas at a time (8 verses each), and today we focus on the 20-21st stanzas (resh-shin). We focus on two themes in these sections: God sees and revives us, and rejoicing, praising and loving him as our response. There is an allusion back to Genesis 16:13 where Hagar calls on God as "El Roi" - the God who sees me. That same idea is repeated here twice in vv. 153 and 159.By slowing down and reflecting on God's teaching as we write out one stanza (8 verses) of Psalm 119 each day, we are able to see more connections and listen better to what God is saying. After you've written out the stanza for the day, use one verse from that section to meditate on throughout the day. We can't exhaust the riches that are in these verses, but you can go deeper into them on your own using our four step process. You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1.If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

How do we take ancient words from another language and culture and use them to pray today? That’s the challenge of praying the Psalms and especially Psalm 119. Psalm 119:121-136 (Ayin-Pe) focus on God's word as a "done deal" and the wondrous effect his word has on us. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We're praying through Psalm 119, the longest psalm of the Bible, and as an acrostic poem it is structured after the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. We are listening to one or two stanzas at a time (8 verses each), and today we focus on the 16-17th stanzas (ayin-pe). We explore several themes in these two sections: being a doer of God's Word, relying on God's covenant as a "done deal", taking on the role of God's servant, and exploring the very personal effects that God's Word has on our lives. There are numerous allusions in these verses to other parts of Scripture, both in the Psalms and elsewhere, but especially in the Law (Genesis-Exodus and the folllowing). We should not just read or study the Bible alone, but we should use the Bible as God’s Word to let God himself teach us and help us apply it to our lives. By slowing down and reflecting on God's teaching as we write out one stanza (8 verses) of Psalm 119 each day, we are able to see more connections and listen better to what God is saying. After you've written out the stanza for the day, use one verse from that section to meditate on throughout the day. We can't exhaust the riches that are in these verses, but you can go deeper into them on your own using our four step process. You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1.If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Everyone wants to do the smart thing, to show some wisdom (and not act stupid). Every day we see marketing trying to tell us what the smart thing is. Psalm 119:97-112 (Mem-Nun) teaches us to embrace and love God's word and to walk daily in his ways. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We're praying through Psalm 119, the longest psalm of the Bible. As an acrostic poem structured after the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, it explores God's word from A to Z. We are listening to one or two stanzas at a time (8 verses each), and today we focus on the 13-14th stanzas (mem-nun), the "m" and "n" words. The main theme in this section is the plea for God to teach me. The first stanza (vv. 97-104) doesn't have any petitions or pleas in it, just expressions of blessing that come following God's word. To love God’s Word is our goal. To make it our day-long meditation, what we think about and keep returning to over and over, is our prayer (v. 97). There is also an emphasis on applying God's Word to our lives so that it affects our daily decisions and the path we walk (vv. 101, 105). This takes us back to the language of Psalm 119:1 and even back to Psalm 1 itself. We should not just read or study the Bible only, but use the Bible as God’s Word to let God himself teach us and help us apply it to our lives. Continue slowing down and remembering God's teaching by writing out one stanza (8 verses) of Psalm 119 each day until you finish it. After you've written out the stanza for the day, pick one verse from that section to meditate on throughout the day. Choose a verse which expresses your own experience with God. Try vv. 97, 99, 101 or 105 from these two sections.We don't spend much time on the last seven verses in the nun stanza (vv. 105-112) in this episode, but you can go deeper into them on your own using our four step process. You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1.If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Forever is a long time. Never is also a long time. God’s Word never fails. Never. Psalm 119:89-96 (Lamedh) expresses a great faith in God, that he will remain faithful and his word will come through just as it always has, even in the midst of trials. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We're praying through Psalm 119, the longest psalm of the Bible. As an acrostic poem made up of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, it explores God's word from A to Z. We are listening to one or two stanzas at a time (8 verses each), and today we focus on the twelfth stanza (lamedh) in which all the lines begin with the L sound. The main feature of this stanza is the long view. God's word has been at work a long time, and God's faithfulness is famous. The confidence and faith expressed in this stanza are especially notable. There is also mention of affliction (v. 92) and threats (v. 95), but the tone throughout is God's faithfulness which encourages faith from us. Try slowing down and remembering God's teaching by writing out one stanza (8 verses) of Psalm 119 each day until you finish it. After you've written out the stanza for the day, pick one verse from that section to meditate on throughout the day. Choose whichever verse expresses your own experience with God. There are many to choose from today: vv. 89, 90, 92, 93, 94 and 96.If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

What do we do when we have faith in God and confidence he will come through for us, but we have to wait? What if we fail or our life runs out before then? That’s the question posed by our section today. Psalm 119:81-88 (Kaph) is like a lament that keeps asking heart-wrenching questions while running to God in faith, not rebelling against him. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!Psalm 119 is the longest psalm of the Bible and it's like a complete class in listening to God's word and growing closer in our faith and devotion to him. We are listening to one or two stanzas at a time (8 verses each), and today we focus on the eleventh stanza (kaph) in which all the lines begin with the K sound. The main feature of this stanza is the difficulties, suffering and vulnerability of the poet and questioning God. In the first seven of the verses (vv. 81-87) there is some mention of affliction, trial or challenge, and in many of those a question is raised to God. These verses sound a lot like the laments that feature prominently in the first half of the book of Psalms. The last verse (v. 88) expresses trust in God, and this is the midpoint of the entire psalm. One way to slow down and remember God's teaching is to write out one stanza (8 verses) of Psalm 119 each day until you finish it. After you've written out the stanza for the day, pick one verse from that section to meditate on throughout the day. Choose whichever verse expresses your own experience with God. For today's reading, I recommend v. 88. If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

“Let it Be.” If you hear that phrase, as most of us do, meaning “Don’t rock the boat; let things rest as they are,” then I think we owe it to the Beatles for their 1970 song and one of their last hits. Psalm 119 teaches us a completely different way to think about and say “Let it Be” that will challenge and build your faith. Psalm 119:73-80 retraces the drama of faith centered in God's name and helps us declare, "Let it be as you have spoken." If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to the longest psalm of the Bible: Psalm 119. As we listen to one or two stanzas at a time, we develop more attraction and affection for God's word. Today's episode features the tenth stanza (yodh) in which all the lines begin with the Y sound. The big idea that features in this stanza is that God is at the center: as Creator (v. 73), as the One to be feared (v. 74), as Yahweh whom I know (v. 75), everything begins with God. His name means "I will be who I will be", and he speaks things into being, saying "Let it be." The last five verses similarly use a form of the Hebrew verb that starts with yodh and means "Let it be..." One way to slow down and remember God's teaching is to write out one stanza (8 verses) of Psalm 119 each day until you finish it. After you've written out the stanza for the day, pick one verse from that section to meditate on throughout the day. There are many good ones to choose from today; pick one that speaks to you. If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

“No one is good except God alone.” That sounds so absolute, and human reason rushes to take exception to it. But Jesus is the one who said it, and he spoke truly (Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19). If you want to look for goodness, you’re only going to find it in God and whatever reflects his nature. Psalm 119:65-72 prompts us to affirm God is good and does good, and we need him to teach us about true goodness. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to the longest psalm of the Bible: Psalm 119. We're listening to one or two stanzas at a time, each of which begins with the same letter in Hebrew, which makes this an acrostic in Hebrew. Today's episode features the ninth stanza (tet). One word stands out in this stanza: the Hebrew word “tov” is common and means “good.” It is the lead word in 5 of the 8 lines of this stanza (vv. 65, 66, 68, 71, 72). Even in adversity and affliction we can make God the center of our lives. One way to slow down and remember God's teaching is to write out one stanza (8 verses) of Psalm 119 each day until you finish it. After you've written out the stanza for the day, pick one verse from that section to meditate on throughout the day. For today's reading, I recommend v. 68. If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm (and chapter) of the Bible: 176 verses long. We pause in our mini-series on Psalm 119 to reflect on the why and the how of praying this part of Scripture. Ron is joined by special guest Angela Oltmanns, a regular listener to First Fifteen, who has some questions about this podcast and the current season. If you are listening to the podcast for the first time, this episode is unlike any that we've done, but more like a traditional podcast with a conversational format. First Fifteen is s devotional podcast to help people listen to God and respond in a personal way. All of our regular episodes use some part of Scripture to listen to God's Word, reflect on it and then pray it back to him. We are usually done in fifteen minutes (or less), but today's episode goes a little longer. We hope you'll appreciate the change of pace and format as you continue praying through the Psalms and Psalm 119 in particular. Some of the topics we discuss: Why pray Psalm 119? What does reading it in Hebrew teach us about this psalm? What is an acrostic poem and how does it work in the case of Psalm 119? Do we know the author or this psalm? How can we better appreciate the poetry of this psalm? How is the Bible similar and different compared to other great literature? Why do people call the Bible "God's Word" and what are they talking about? Is it essential to learn Hebrew to appreciate this psalm? If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow us on Twitter @WordofPrayer15 (Ron) and @angelaoltmanns (Angela). Go ahead and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Memory is a tricky thing. We don’t remember things very well or for long. It’s because we forget that we need to go back to God’s word, to learn it again, to recall its principles and lessons. Psalm 119:49-56 prompts us to remember God's word and receive the comfort he will give us. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to the longest psalm of the Bible: Psalm 119. We're listening to one or two stanzas at a time, each of which begins with the same letter in Hebrew, which makes this an acrostic in Hebrew. Today's episode features the seventh stanza (zayin). One word gets special prominence in this stanza: in Hebrew, the verb “zakar” is a common word that means “remember”, and it begins vv. 49, 52 and 55. The first plea is for God to remember his promise which gives us hope. God comforts us in our difficulty (v. 50) and in our remembering (v. 52), which leads us to remember God's name and keep his law. One way to slow down and remember God's teaching is to write out one stanza (8 verses) of Psalm 119 each day until you finish it. After you've written out the stanza for the day, pick one verse from that section to meditate on throughout the day. For today's reading, I recommend either v. 49, 52, or 55. If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.You can get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

One lesson you can’t learn fully on your own is how to love. Love is an inclusive activity; it involves you AND someone else. It’s simply impossible to love yourself enough to learn what true love is. Psalm 119:33-48 stresses God as the primary cause and power behind our prayers as well as the inclusive "and": me and you, us and them, God and me. It ends with an emphasis on God's love as our primary motive in studying his word. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to the longest psalm of the Bible: Psalm 119. We're listening to one or two stanzas at a time, and we've seen that this psalm is written as an acrostic in Hebrew, where the lines begin with the letters of the alphabet in order. This episode features the fifth and sixth stanzas (he and waw). God is the source or cause behind our prayers, and our ultimate longing for him and his word is expressed through love (vv. 47-48). The "and" is crucial here; we can't learn what true love is alone or in isolation. It takes a relationship or a community to experience true love. God is good for his promises, and his love is an expression of his faithfulness and fierce loyalty. I invite you to write out one stanza (8 verses) of Psalm 119 each day until you finish it. Writing out scripture is one way to meditate on it and make it stick. After you've written out the stanza for the day, pick one verse from that section to meditate on throughout the day. For today's reading, I recommend either v. 33, 35, 47 or 48. If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

The alphabet is a wonderful invention. It simplifies our written language, gives us a way to handle the complexity of communication. In Psalm 119 we’re learning the alphabet of God’s Word. Are you ready for the next lesson? Psalm 119:25-32 stresses our choice of the way or path we will walk, and the psalmist encourages us to choose God's way and run wild and free in it.If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 119, the longest psalm of the Bible. We're listening to one or two stanzas at a time. This wisdom psalm about God’s law is written as an acrostic in Hebrew, a poem where the lines begin with the letters of the alphabet in order. The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters, and Psalm 119 has 22 sections of 8 verses each. Each section or stanza starts every line with the same letter: This episode features the fourth stanza (daleth) where every line starts with "d". In this episode we pay attention to what gets repeated. The word “way” is repeated a lot, five times in fact. The Hebrew word “way” is derek, the same word that is prominent in Psalm 1 (the way of the righteous and of the wicked). It’s also in the first verse of Psalm 119, which shows its importance. Scripture teaches we are free to choose. God gives us free will. He wants us to choose him and his way, but he doesn’t force us. The psalmist is quietly, persistently urging us, “Choose his way.”I invite you to write out one stanza (8 verses) of Psalm 119 each day until you finish it. Writing out scripture is one way to make it "sticky". After you've written out the stanza for the day, pick one verse from that section to meditate on throughout the day. For today's reading, I recommend either v. 31 or 32. If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

To come before God’s word and learn anything, you first have to admit you are empty, blind, broken. If you feel full, enlightened and comfortable, what can God possibly teach you? Psalm 119 is long and tedious and plain for the full. For the hungry, it only increases your appetite for more real food. Psalm 119:17-24 teaches us that before we can see God's truth, we need to confess our difficulties, acknowledge our blindness and ask God to open our eyes to see his truth.If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 119, the longest psalm of the Bible. We listened to the first two stanzas (aleph and bet) in the last episode. Psalm 119 is divided into 22 parts or stanzas, each one 8 verses long, and we'll be listening to one or two stanzas at a time. In today's episode we focus on the third stanza (gimel), which lands us into lament, difficulty, and hardship. This doesn't sound like the blessedness we heard in the first two stanzas! The psalmist speaks as a stranger, someone slandered, crushed, cursed and bearing contempt. But instead of looking for pity or self-justification, look at what the psalmist does: meditates on God’s statutes (v. 23), pleads for God’s generosity (v. 17), asks God for revelation (v. 18), and takes delight in God’s revealed law (v. 24). That kind of response instructs us in how we should respond to difficulties and troubles. Even with the difficulties, vv. 18 and 24 are full of confidence and longing for God. I recommend v. 18 as a brief prayer you can pray before you open scripture and listen to God.I invite you to write out one stanza (8 verses) of Psalm 119 for the next few weeks until you finish it. After you've written out the stanza for the day, pick one verse from that section to meditate on throughout the day. For today's reading, I recommend either v. 18 or 24. If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

What brings you delight in life? God wants to speak to you and fill you with his delights. He invites you to come and feast on his rich food and grow strong on his truth. You are in for a treat!If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 119, the longest psalm of the Bible. We aren't going to pray the whole psalm in this episode! Psalm 119 is divided into 22 parts or stanzas, each one 8 verses long, and we'll be listening to one or two stanzas at a time. Psalm 119 is a wisdom psalm that praises God for his word or law (torah). It uses the entire Hebrew alphabet for that, like saying "God's word has everything, from A to Z". The first stanza focuses on the blessing of walking in God’s ways and setting a firm intention to embrace all of God’s law or teaching. The first three verses set the tone for all the psalm with a double blessing on those who walk in God's ways. The second stanza (vv. 9-16) brings up what happens as soon as we commit to walking in God's Word: we have to face our sin, our tendency to wander, and get serious about purifying our hearts. It’s not all serious and grim, though. When we do this, there is joy, focus (meditation) and delight in this path (vv. 14-16). The language of delight, joy and longing is unmistakable in Psalm 119. It leads us to move beyond the head and to embrace God and his word with our full heart. I invite you to join me in writing out one stanza (8 verses) of Psalm 119 for the next few weeks until you finish it. After you've done that you can pick one verse to meditate on throughout the day. If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Life is tough and we will get knocked down. The truth that God is for you should encourage you daily. The reality that God in Jesus came for you gives you your whole reason for living. Psalm 118 is full of truth that will transform your life.If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 118, the last psalm of the Hallel (Psalm 113-118) that was sung at the Jewish holy festivals and especially Passover. Psalm 118 was the last hymn sung after the Passover meal, so this was also the last song Jesus sang before the cross. It begins, "Give thanks to Yahweh for he is good, for his loyal love lasts forever" (Psalm 118:1). It ends with the same line in v. 29. In between, it recalls God's deliverance of his people Israel in bringing them back to the promised land from exile among the nations. God is addressed in the most personal of terms. We've been translating his covenant name "Yahweh" (traditionally "Lord" in English Bibles) throughout this series, and besides using that name often, this psalm also addresses God as "Yah", a shortened and very intimate way to speak to God.One of the striking things about Psalm 118 is the three references to it in the gospels that are tied to Jesus' last week in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. We give more details on the podcast, but some of the lines of the psalm will probably sound familiar. There is more in this psalm than we can really cover in 15 minutes, so you should consider meditating on a verse or a few verses at a time. I've been writing out sections of this psalm this week and want to invite you to do the same. You might want to start with vv. 1, 6, 8, 16, 24, 25, 28, and 29. You could also write out one verse a day for a month. If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

When we start praying, God meets us where we are. But he doesn’t leave us there. The Psalms have been guiding us to put our attention, trust and praise in God, which is where it belongs. Psalm 115 begins with the plea: Not to us, Yahweh, not to us... If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 115, which is part of the Hallel (Psalm 113-118) that was sung at the Jewish holy festivals and especially Passover. Psalm 115 draws several contrasts in it, first between us and God (let Him gain the glory), next between God and idols that other nations serve, and finally between the ungodly who have little to look forward to beyond the grave and the righteous who will praise God forever. Spend some time examining your heart for idols, and meditate on Psalm 115:1 ("Not to us, Yahweh, not to us...") today. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Psalm 110 is one of two psalms about the Messiah that is widely quoted in the New Testament by Jesus himself and his early followers. At the same time, it is cryptic and mysterious in some of its details. How do we pray it? If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 110 today, which along with Psalm 2 is a messianic psalm. It's language comes from Israel's early kingdom days, yet it refers to the king as a priest too, something that was never true during the the reign of any of Israel's kings. In speaking of the Messiah to come, it clearly is drawing from ancient language and ideas while making far-reaching claims for the Messiah. In the New Testament, Jesus used this psalm to confound his opponents, and he considered himself the fulfillment, both son of David and David's Lord or superior. Jesus quotes from this psalm in three of the four gospels, and Peter also refers to it on Pentecost (Acts 2). It shows up again in Hebrews, which makes use of it in several ways. How do we pray Psalm 110 today? We follow Jesus' lead along with the early Church and welcome Jesus as Messiah, both king and priest who alone rises to fulfill the prophetic role of the Messiah and who will return again to reign at the end of the age. We look forward in anticipation to God's righteous judgment and victory over his enemies. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

What is the most basic but essential thing about praise, the abc's? Not only does Psalm 111 tell us what that is, it teaches us how to practice it. Psalm 112 continues the theme that Psalm 111 ends on and shows us the blessings of praising and worshiping God. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 111 and considering Psalm 112 from Book 5 of the Psalms. In form and structure these two psalms are quite similar: both start the same with "Hallelu-Yah!", both are ten verses long, and both are Hebrew acrostics--poems where the first word of each line start with the letters of the alphabet, from "A to Z" (or aleph to taw). Further, the last verse of Psalm 111 provides the theme that Psalm 112 begins with. Psalm 111 and 112 are wisdom psalms and contain themes and emphases that we find in the other wisdom books (Job, Ecclesiastes and especially Proverbs). A key verse that illustrates this is Psalm 111:10 "The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom." Psalm 112 in many ways echoes Psalm 1 and the entire book of Proverbs. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

God’s salvation seems cheap to those not lost, God’s redemption isn’t sweet to those not bound or imprisoned. God’s love isn’t especially meaningful to those who haven’t been cheated, robbed or forgotten. In other words, if you haven’t cried out to God in desperation, you probably won’t seek his deliverance. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 107 from Book 5 of the Psalms. While it has some similarities to the two previous psalms (105-106), it has less emphasis on history and more on God's deliverance from a variety of human conditions. There are three main parts to this psalm: the first three verses or introduction, the many ways and situations God delivers us (vv. 4-32), and a meditation on God’s ways that calls for wisdom (vv. 33-43). Altogether, it’s a thanksgiving psalm for God’s deliverance that urges us to grow in wisdom. Psalm 107 begins with praise, not lament. God's goodness, love and deliverance are highlighted. The psalm recalls specific ways God has delivered people in a wide variety of circumstances: from dry desert wanderings to watery ocean waves, from the darkness of prison to the foolishness of rebellion, from hunger and thirst and from sickness and discouragement. The last part of Psalm 107 is a wisdom psalm. It says God is fully able to reverse situations; he is the master of reversals in nature and in human fortunes. Wisdom teaches us to be humble and seek God’s will, because our situation can be reversed. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Is God concerned with the past or with wrongs our ancestors committed in the past? Do we in fact need to give any thought to history? The Psalms answer these questions and show us how to engage with history and the past in God’s way. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to parts of Psalm 105 and 106 from Book 4 of the Psalms. These both retrace Israel's history and yet they have two different approaches. Since these are longer psalms (45 and 48 verses long), we won't read the entire psalm on the episode. Psalm 105 focuses on Israel's early history and praises God for his mighty works demonstrated in their deliverance from Egypt and wandering in the wilderness. God's covenant with his people is emphasized. Psalm 106 also praises God for his loyal covenant love and mighty acts, but Israel's sin and rebellion is repeatedly mentioned. The psalmist also confesses he and the nation share in the sin; it is not just a past problem but it continues in the present. The disobedience has landed the nation in exile and the psalmist prays for God to bring his people back to the land of Israel. These two psalms show that God works in history and wants his people to praise him and remember what he has done as well as honor the covenant and repent of their sins and those of their fathers. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

When was the last time you gave much thought to God’s benefits for you? God’s blessings are rich and complete and when you wake up to them, you are compelled to bless God for all his benefits. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 103 from Book 4 of the Psalms. It is one of the most gracious and beautiful psalms in the collection. It has three sections: vv. 1-5 praise God for his benefits, vv. 6-18 focus on who God is, his covenant and how he deals with sin, and vv. 19-22 swells from God reigning at the center to show all creation blessing him. The first and last verse encourages us to stir our soul and bless God, to learn to turn from seeking the blessing to start being the blesser. God's grace, compassion and tender love is a prominent theme and it echoes what Moses saw in Exodus 34:6-7. Psalm 103 can transform you from a blessed child to a blesser, a giver who extends blessing to others, starting with God. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

To call God holy is to speak truly about him as wholly good. If we’re honest, it also involves us confessing that we are NOT holy or good, not like he is. Any goodness we have is a very dim reflection of his dazzling brilliance. Psalm 99 repeats three times: He is holy!If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 99 from Book 4 of the Psalms. At first it seems to be an elaborated version of Psalm 93. It begins by proclaiming "Yahweh reigns" (so does Psalm 97 by the way). It lifts high God's praise, but then it starts laying down its own fresh emphases. As we said before, all the Psalms from 90-100 have some intricate links between them and you would be blessed from in-depth study of all of these psalms. Psalm 99 names three of Israel's leaders who had priestly functions and intimacy with God (Moses, Aaron and Samuel), though they served in other ways too. Moses was a messenger for God's law, Aaron was the first high priest to serve at the tabernacle, and Samuel also anointed Israel's first two kings. Psalm 99 emphasizes that God is holy, his name is holy, and he reigns. Besides the links to Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4, this psalm also echoes the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Today, pray the Lord's prayer while keeping in mind the rich background of Psalm 99. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Singing is a natural response when our emotions are aroused. Psalm 98 shows us what singing a new song includes and reminds us we have plenty to sing about. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 98 from Book 4 of the Psalms. It celebrates God's salvation and justice by singing a new song. It follows in the steps of Psalm 95 and 96 which are also songs of praise or urge singing a new song to Yahweh. All the Psalms from 90-100 have some intricate links between them and you would be blessed from in-depth study on this topic. The exuberant thanksgiving and praise by the rivers, the mountains and the seas helps us see that praise is not limited to humans alone. The concluding note of God coming and his future judgment and restoration of justice strikes the note of hopeful expectation for believers. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Who (or what) is in control? That is a question we have to ask today. Psalm 93 gives us an emphatic answer: Yahweh reigns. He is in control. And he is not like any other god you might have encountered. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 93 from Book 4 of the Psalms. It is a psalm of God's reign and rule. In five verses, just 45 words in Hebrew, it captures an entire worldview. Yahweh reigns, he created the world and all the mighty forces of nature are beneath him. He has revealed himself faithfully, and he is holy. From these truths, our response is to live acknowledging God's reign and his holiness and making daily choices that submit to him. The "waters" in v. 3 (this translation) are literally "rivers" in Hebrew and could refer to the mighty rivers of the ancient world, the seas (and their currents), or both. "Yahweh" is repeated five times, and he is clearly central in this psalm. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

If there was ever a psalm for our day, it has to be Psalm 91. So many people have turned to it for protection, comfort and reassurance. God gave it to us in order to grow our faith and help us put confidence in him. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 91 from Book 4 of the Psalms. It is a psalm of confidence, trust and a prayer for God's protection. It teaches us to call on God and even gives us four names for him: Most High (Elyon), Almighty (Shaddai), Yahweh, and God (Elohim). It also gives us several descriptions or images of his help: hiding place, shadow, refuge, fortress as well as shield and rampart. Though the threats and dangers that can assault us are many, God's protection is more secure and he sends angels to to guard and help us. The last three verses has God speaking directly to us, promising to rescue, protect, answer, be with us, deliver, honor, satisfy and show us salvation. Grab hold of one of these truths and meditate on it today.Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Some psalms grow on you and become such a part of you over time that they are a touchstone, an anchor for your soul through the changing seasons of faith. Psalm 90 is that psalm for me. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 90 from Book 4 of the Psalms. It is a psalm of Moses and has a lot packed into it, more than we can unpack in 15 minutes. It teaches us that God is eternal yet our lives are fleeting. God hates sin because it destroys us and his good creation. Life apart from God is full of frustration and trouble, so the wisest choice you can make in life is to fear God and call on his name. Ask him to teach you and show you the true purpose of your life. God is compassionate and gives us both joy and purpose in living. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Do you seek the blessing of being in God's presence? Those who have spent any time there know the joy and the comfort that God brings. But the blessing isn't limited just to spending time in God's presence. Psalm 84 shows us that the blessing extends to other times including when we set out hearts toward God and place our trust in him. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 84 from Book 3 of the Psalms. It is a familiar psalm to many and it expresses a longing to be in God's presence, to spend time in the courts of God. What if you can't actually be in a house of God or a place of worship? Psalm 84 also speaks to those who have set their heart on pilgrimage, who are on their way to go worship God and speaks blessings upon the journey. Finally, it blesses all who put their trust in God and who focus on doing their duty by choosing to do the right thing and turn their back on the ways of the wicked. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we get into season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

God is just and is concerned with justice. The Psalms affirm this repeatedly. Rulers who act like they are above the law or they *are* the law, like they are gods somehow, are in for a rude awakening. God judges them and finds them lacking. He will step in to restore justice when they don't. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 82 from Book 3 of the Psalms. It is a psalm of Asaph and it calls on God to judge the "gods" or rulers who fail to act justly and take the side of the wicked. God's justice is rooted in his nature of goodness and righteousness, and he takes the side of the oppressed, the weak and those who cry out for mercy. God will restore his creation back to its intended order and rightness. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we get into season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Why do the wicked prosper and get away with doing wrong? Aren't the righteous supposed to be blessed and the wicked be judged? But the wicked are partying like they own the place! It's enough to make you question God. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 73 which begins Book 3 of the Psalms. It is a psalm of Asaph and it wrestles with some big questions. The prosperity and boasts of the wicked is enough to make you want to give up the faith or question what's the point of accepting God's limits. Read and meditate on this entire psalm and you will see a glimpse of the bigger picture. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we get into season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

There is fierce opposition to faith today, both from opposing voices and sometimes from our own wayward doubts and thoughts. The challenge is to listen to the truth, to develop a lifelong faith like Psalm 71 demonstrates. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's w/Sin/ord for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 71. It is a lesser known psalm but it prepares us to think long-term about our choices and our faith in God. Will we grow old and have more confidence and faith in God regardless? This psalm shows us to way to do that. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we get into season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

What do you do when you feel shaken? Psalm 11:3 asks "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Our prayer today is meant to take our focus off of the place that is shaken and to put it on the only place that is unshakeable-the rock and fortress that our God is.If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's w/Sin/ord for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 62. It is a psalm of confidence, but it is well-suited to times like now when things around us and in us are in upheaval. The main message of the psalm is repeated twice in a refrain (vv. 1-2 and 5-6), and the prayer ends focusing on two truths about God: he is all-powerful and all-loving. Only in God and by faith can we proclaim that. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we get into season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

The Psalms give us language for our heart's longings and for our own prayers. There is a tremendous difference, though, between saying the right words and living fully the power of those words. God isn't interested in giving us a quick fix. He wants to restore us completely.If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's w/Sin/ord for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalms 42-431, the beginning of Book 2 in the Psalms. The opening words are probably familiar: "As a deer pants for water, so my soul pants for you." But our desire is often not enough to get us into God's presence. We may long to worship him freely with God's people and we cannot, either due to sickness or we are far from our spiritual home or another reason. Besides that, we learn that haters are mocking and undermining faith in God and it leads our psalmist deeper into depression. Using the image of water in many different forms, we go on a journey with the psalmist. He repeats the same refrain three times, but it means very different things as he tries to lift himself out of his despair remembering times of earlier communion with God. It doesn't work. Finally he turns to God in prayer and praise and things shift. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we get into season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Jesus emphasized mercy and said it's what God desires from us. We certainly need mercy. So why do we hold back from showing more mercy to others? It's a heart issue, and Psalm 41 today shows us both the blessing of mercy and the ugliness when no mercy is given. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's w/Sin/ord for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 41, the last psalm in Book 1 of the Psalms. Just as Psalm 1 started with a blessing on the righteous, Psalm 41 starts with a blessing on the merciful. Appropriately it ends with a praised-filled blessing on Yahweh, the God of Israel, who is the source of all righteousness and mercy. Psalm 41 also delves into the complexities of healing and forgiveness, both of which our psalmist needed. Instead of receiving mercy and compassion from the community and close friends, he receives ugly, treacherous treatment. Instead of becoming bitter, the psalmist puts his focus on God's deliverance and healing and is restored. There's a lot going on in just 13 verses! Another touchstone verse to meditate on arising from this psalm is Matthew 5:7. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we get into season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Is this a tough time in your life? Maybe you struggle with doubt or discouragement, sickness, enemies or opponents, feeling abandoned, or being falsely accused. Do any of these describe your situation? Psalm 27 is a powerful weapon we pick up to deal with these.If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's w/Sin/ord for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 27 today and talking about confidence. This psalm doesn't say you have to summon up the strength and confidence from within yourself. You transcend fear and feelings by focusing on God and obeying his command to put your faith in him. Spend time in his presence. Let him minister to you and build a fortress around you. Listen to these 14 verses and meditate on them. Pick out a line or section that speaks to your heart and repeat it to yourself. Make it your prayer today. The reading of Psalm 27 starts at 2:00 and goes to 4:20. There is also an example of a prayer taken from Psalm 27 at 6:40 to 7:35. Other psalms of confidence include: 16, 18, 23, and 91. There are others as well, and we'll return to this theme in this season. You can pray and meditate any of these to grow your confidence in God. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we get into season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

You’ve done wrong and you don’t want to admit it. How long do you keep quiet about it? Psalm 32 talks about that situation and then trains us in the best way to handle it. When we delay or defend ourselves, we're just prolonging a long slow death. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's w/Sin/ord for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 32 today and talking about forgiveness, specifically our need for God's forgiveness. When we delay confession or justify our sin, we end up suffering. God is quick to forgive and to hide our sin so that it can never be recorded against us or used to condemn us. But that doesn't work if we on our own try to hide our sin from God and others. Read and meditate on this psalm and let it lead you to rapid repentance over any sin you've not confessed or dealt with before God. The penitential psalms include: 6, 32, 38, 51, 103, 130 and 143 (these are the Hebrew numbers; in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles the numbers are off by one). We hear of these seven psalms being used in the early church by the fifth century and that could be based on an even earlier tradition. They were prayed especially during Lent, the 40 days of fasting leading up to Easter. Each of these psalms of forgiveness show us different things about the experience of confession and being reconciled in our relationship with God due to sin. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we get into season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Waiting. It's hardly my favorite activity. For most people waiting is a waste of time, a tedious postponement of our life. But waiting is precious to God. Psalm 25 teaches us what to do while we're waiting.If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's w/Sin/ord for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We are listening to Psalm 25 in this episode and the theme is waiting. Psalm 25 is a lament, and lament is really about waiting and growing in the process. This acrostic psalm shows artistry in its arrangement and depth in the range of themes that is tackles. Some of the poetry is hard to appreciate in translation, but the main messages come through clearly. Here are some of the "power ideas" mentioned in the episode: trust, shame-disgrace, teach-guide, path-ways, God's love (and goodness), sin, covenant, fear God, troubles-suffering, deliverance-salvation. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we get into season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.In the spirit of the acrostic psalm, here are some of the clusters I mentioned for you to meditate on and use in prayer: Trust/Truth/Troubles, Shame/Sin/Salvation, prayers to God-Teach me/Love me/Deliver me.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Are you ready to worship? If it has been a while since you worshiped with God's people, Psalm 24 may be just the thing to get you ready for worship. It helps us answer the question: How do we enter God's presence?If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We listen to Psalm 24 in our episode today and it's words are probably familiar, but I think we fail to grasp the setting and message of this entire psalm. It comes from the days of Israel's frequent battles with their enemies (3000 years ago!) when they brought the ark of the covenant back to its resting place in the sanctuary. As they entered the gates of the holy city, the Levites stopped people at the great doors and a question/answer exchange took place (see Ps 24:3-6). Listen to the entire episode to gain a deeper appreciation for the background of this psalm and also three key points to help apply it to your own worship and prayer time with God. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we get into season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.For this episode we edited down the original recording which had four more minutes of background and content about Israel's history and scriptures that illustrate it. If you are interested to hear those, send an email to guide@word-of-prayer.com. Also, if you want to study scripture references for background look at Deut 20:1-5, 1 Sam 4, 7:1, 2 Sam 6:12-18 and 1 Kings 8:1-6. The larger context is found in the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, and1-2 Samuel.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Is it foolish to pray to a god we can't see, who might not even be there? Some think so, and just about everyone has questioned our belief in God at some time. But Psalm 14 says the real folly is to see the evil around us and to persist in the belief that there is no god. No one wants to live in a world dominated by sin. We long for something better. God planted that longing in our heart. Those seeking God will find him.If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We listen to Psalm 14 in our episode today and it begins with a startling statement: the fool says in their heart, "There is no god." At the same time, it pictures Yahweh looking down on humanity to see if any are seeking him. No one is! Sin has taken humanity captive. As Ps 14:3 says (and Romans 1 and 3 echoes), all have turned aside and become corrupt. No one does good, not even one." The only hope is in turning to God and seeking him, renouncing the darkness and evil that has clouded our hearts and our thinking. God will save and restore us when we put our hope in him. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we get into season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Think of a time when you felt fantastic. How long did it last? Do you know what caused it? You can actually learn to delight yourself in God. Psalm 16 trains us in using our emotions in a positive way to grow in our relationship with God. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We feature Psalm 16 in our episode today and it leads us into a close and personal experience of prayer to God. How do we pray this kind of prayer if we are not feeling a strong or intense affection for God? It helps for us to tune in to danger on the one hand and to also surrender to God. Psalm 16 points out both of these things, and it helps us to empty our cup so God can fill us with the good stuff: more of Him in our life. God will show you the path that leads to life which leads into His presence and intense, joyful delight that never ends. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. As we get into season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Where do you need healing or forgiveness? What part of you needs healing? What do you need to be forgiven? Those might seem like different things, but what we will see today in Psalm 6 is they are pretty closely related. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We feature Psalm 6 today and it helps us uncover what it means to pray "Heal me" to God. The psalmist feels vulnerable before God and is suffering. In body, spirit and soul there is distress and suffering. It is not an individual matter either because others are implicated as well, taking part in the taunting and suffering. What is needed is healing and forgiveness. The prayer ends with some degree of confidence in being heard and in putting the enemies to shame. Healing and forgiveness will come. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. With the beginning of season three I encourage you to get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or ebook)Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Having any trouble sleeping? The Psalms show us how to pray at night before we go to bed. If you have any hesitation about God hearing you, you need to listen to this episode and Psalm 4 and let it guide you to make your request, your tephillah or prayer known before God. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We feature Psalm 4 in this episode and it leads us to pray a "Hear me" prayer to God. The psalmist has confidence in being heard and shows us no matter our troubled heart or emotional upset, God can handle it if we will unload it before him. We will find peace in his presence and a great blessing, even greater than the material things that we often call "blessings". Let Psalm 4 be part of your new evening routine before you go to bed and learn to pray it each night. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also watch this as a video podcast on Youtube at the Word of Prayer channelSeason Three has begun and I encourage you to get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or ebook)Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

Royalty may not mean much to you but it's important to God. The Psalms have a lot to say about kings of the world and God's kingdom. Who will you bow to? Whose authority matters in your life? Psalm 2 pushes those questions to the center of our prayers. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!We feature Psalm 2 in this episode and it challenges us with its historical background and harsh language. But since it--together with Psalm 1--forms a thematic introduction to the entire book of Psalms, we need to pay attention. This psalm also was cherished in the early Church for how it spoke of Jesus as God's Son. Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. Season Three has begun and I encourage you to get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or ebook)Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

The Psalms show us--and teach us--how to pray honestly, from the heart. That doesn't mean that all the words come out sounding pretty and poetic. Sometimes, they are ragged and raspy like the psalm we will pray today. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!In this episode we briefly introduce four types of prayer that we find in the Psalms: Hear me, God; Help me, God; Heal me, God; and Hallelujah, God! These are spread thoughout the collection, but the early psalms do have more cries for being heard, help and healing while the later psalms toward the end have more expressions of praise and blessing. We feature in this episode Psalm 3, a short prayer of eight verses that cries out "Oh my God!" The title says it is David's prayer when he fled from his son Absalom and the kingdom seemed to be lost to him. He faced many internal enemies and felt surrounded and many said he couldn't count on God to deliver him. The groan of "Oh my God!" was fully appropriate. But after starting there, David moves on to trust and dependence and faith in God. "Oh my God!" is not said in mock disbelief; it is a prayer that comes before "I will not fear" and "deliver me, O God." Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. Season Three has begun and I encourage you to get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or ebook)Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)

The Psalms are a favorite for praying, singing and meditation. You probably have several favorite verses from the Psalms. How well do you read the entire book--all 150 psalms, all ~2500 verses? We want to explore how to go further and deeper in the psalms in this season. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. What a perfect way to get started!In this first episode we discuss three points that face us in the Psalms or humps to get over: History, Hebrew poetry and Harsh language. There is a lot of history in the Old Testament and in the writing of the Psalms. David is no doubt behind many of the psalms but not all of them. The historical background for any individual psalm is often not clear to us. We can pray it anyway. Poetry in any language is challenging, and Hebrew poetry has its own features that are different from English, especially parallelism and the figures of speech. The Church from early days, though, enjoyed and prayed the Psalms even in translation (in Greek and other languages--Latin, Coptic, Syriac, etc.) and we can too. The harsh language of the psalms targets enemies, foes, the wicked--even God! Jesus quoted from the Psalms when he was being tried to the extreme, both at his temptation (Matthew 4) and at his death (Matthew 27). God can hear us at our worst and he wants to bring us to a better place. We close this episode praying Psalm 13, a short prayer of five verses that echoes the question "How long?" In Hebrew, ad nah is the phrases repeated four times in the first few verses, and God shows us here it's okay for us to question, to wonder, to pray "How long will this last?" Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. Season Three has started and I encourage you to get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or ebook)Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1. Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30142397)