Psalm 145:3-4

New International Version (NIV): Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.

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 3-4): 

You are beyond my ability to understand. You are great in every way that someone can be great. You are great in size, in mercy, in justice, in love, in kindness, in gentleness, in power. If anyone should be praised, it is You, yet all too often I take You for granted. Instead, I should praise You as I walk and sit and lay down. I want to praise You always privately in my heart, but I need to publicly praise You to others also. I need to explain what You have done in my life to the young people around me. I need to teach them the stories of the scriptures and show them the lessons I have learned about You in the pages of the Bible. I need to pass on to others the many lessons that You have taught me about trusting You and Your sacrificial actions, which You took out of love, and most of all, to trust You because You are just You. I cannot fathom Your greatness, so how can I teach it? Give me the words to open Your beauty to others.