Let Us Pray | Lent 2023
Over the years, I’ve repeatedly returned to Psalm 119 to pray for myself and people in my life. A couple weeks ago, my pastor taught about prayer as an integral part of a healthy church – I immediately thought of Psalm 119 and returned to its depths, this time praying for my church. As I did, an idea began to form: What about praying Psalm 119 for Lent?
As I’ve previously shared, including this piece from last year, Lent is an increasingly important component of my faith. I like the intentionality of the season…the preparation of hearts as we head toward Easter: the Cross, the Sacrifice, the Death, the Resurrection, the Life, the Hope of Christ’s Return. The last two years I’ve written poetry. This has been a good practice of introspection. This year I want to have an external component as well, which is where I return to my question: What about praying Psalm 119 for Lent?
So, what about it? Would you join me?
There will not be any public events, but beginning with Ash Wednesday (Feb. 22) I’ve developed a plan that spreads the length of Psalm 119 out over the 40 days of Lent, typically W-F-Su with a slight deviation from the pattern during Holy Week. I’m including the schedule at the end of this post, but I will also post the passage on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) on each scheduled date. My handle on all of those platforms is @MalindaDJust if you want to follow along for reminders.
I definitely see this as a time of introspective, personal prayer as we ready our hearts for Easter, but I also see this as a time of intercessory prayer to pray on behalf of others, on behalf of our own communities, on behalf of our own churches. As David Powlison writes:
Psalm 119 is the thoughtful outcry that rises when real life meets real God. (1)
It's my desire to use Psalm 119 in this way, and the Lenten season seems to me a good time to pray through the length, breadth and depth of this Psalm...together.
And so,
Let Us Pray.
Quoted Resource:
(1) Suffering and Psalm 119 by David Powlison; The Journal of Biblical Counseling, Fall 2004; accessible here: https://www.ccef.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Suffering-and-Psalm-119.pdf
Extra resources:
The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon; accessible here: https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/tod/ps119_00.cfm?a=597001
Study Guide for Psalm 119 by David Guzik; accessible here: https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/psalm/psalm-119.cfm?a=597001
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