Psalm 145:8-9

New International Version (NIV): The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

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 8-9): 

You, The Great I Am, are full of sympathetic understanding for us even though we are a shallow backbiting fault-finding people. By the standards of the kingdom of heaven, we are contemptible, yet You treat us as worthy of the highest honors and have warmth and pity as we fail to learn even the most basic lessons of love. You have so much patience with us, not becoming angry as we return to our own vomit again and again. How can You love us when You can see to the heart of our vain selfish cruel personalities? And yet You cherish us. I don’t understand that. Even the worst, most contemptible and destructive pervert is the recipient of Your mercy and love. The best of us are no better than that pervert when compared to Your character, yet You love us and want us with You.