Psalm 115:1

International Standard Version (ISV): Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name be given glory on account of your gracious love and faithfulness.

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 (verse 1): 

Father, I take Your glory to myself instead of praising You, and I am sorry. I have exalted myself rather than directing praise where it should go. You are perfect love in all Your dealings with me while I am prideful and childishly self-centered. Yet, You do not desert me or give up on me. I put on a show of love to others because I want to please You, but I know that it is only a façade. My pretensions to love are shown as the fakes they are when held up against the radiance of Your generosity and affection and patience. My shriveled heart is starved for the love that You want to give me. I pray to be filled and let Your love flow to others.