Psalm 116:1-4

International Standard Version (ISV): I love the LORD because he has heard my prayer for mercy; for he listens to me whenever I call. The ropes of death were wound around me and the anguish of Sheol came upon me; I encountered distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the LORD, “LORD, please deliver me!“

Directions:  Choose a translation of the Bible that you easily understand, but that has depth of meaning.  I recommend that you keep a special journal just for praying the Psalms.  Try praying the Psalms for yourself before reading my version of these verses.  The point of this method is for the Spirit to speak with your heart and that you will commune with God about how your own experience relates to His word.  I only include my sample to help you understand what I mean in the steps and because it is always good for Christians to share their thoughts about God and experiences with Him.

Step 1:  Choose a verse or two from one of the Psalms and write it out in a notebook. 

Step 2: After reading a thought from the verse, begin writing your own version of that thought.  This is not exactly paraphrasing the Psalmist’s words although you can paraphrase if you wish.  This is taking the thought and applying it to your own life and changing the words to fit your own experience.  Continue writing about your experience with God until you no longer have anything more to say.

Step 3:  Go to the next thought in the verse and repeat Step 2. 

Step 4:  Continue this process until you feel satisfied that you are finished or until the verse’s thoughts are finished.

My version (verses 1-4): 

When I feel the depths of depression, You are there. When I feel disgusted with other people, You are with me. When I see the depths of my incompetence, You still love me. You listen to me even when I am boring and repetitious and foolish and petty and obnoxious. You are not repelled by my shallow impatient phoniness. You stay with me in all my self-centered attempts to do right.

When I wake in the middle of the night in terror with an upset stomach and oppressed dreams, I call to You to comfort me. You are the strength and joy I need in that darkness. My pains are multiplied in the gloom of the night, but You are here to comfort me and lighten my pained spirit so that I can sleep peacefully again.