In this post, I share a new-to-me practice for Lent: meditating on the seven penitential psalms. It can be hard to dwell on our own sins, admit our failings, and ask for forgiveness, but these psalms can give us the words. I hope this post gives you some ways to invite the Psalms into your Lent devotions.
We are well into this holy season of Lent, the 40 days from Ash Wednesday to the Resurrection Day where I join many Christians to meditate on the sufferings and death of Christ as well as on my own sins which nailed Him to that cross. It’s hard to dwell on those realities. The pain and suffering of our Lord. The agonizing death of crucifixion. And most of all, pondering my own sins. During Lent, the church liturgy and hymns, as well as personal devotions, prayers, and fasting practices can bring these uncomfortable truths to mind.
As I have matured in faith (after a lifetime of worship, confession, prayer, and study), I confess that sometimes I believe I’m not such a poor, miserable sinner. Not like those people. Even though I say that phrase (poor, miserable sinner) or a version of it every week during public confession, I sometimes give lip service to that truth.
That’s why this season of Lent is beautiful. It reminds me of the seriousness of it all. I am a sinner who needs a Savior. That never changes. I am also a forgiven sinner with a Savior. St. Paul writes, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
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The Seven Penitential Psalms
One new-to-me practice that I am trying this year is to meditate upon the seven penitential psalms – Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143. Why these psalms? For years, they have been recognized as psalms that invite repentance. More than a thousand years ago, the church was encouraged to pray these psalms daily on their knees.
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
My attempt to do this is simpler. Not daily but weekly. And not on my knees, although that would be a beautiful thing to do if I hadn’t had ACL knee surgery in my forties. I’m reading one per week, as Lent is about seven weeks long. They are all fairly short – the longest one is 28 verses – which can be read in less than ten minutes.
Yes, it’s halfway through Lent, but you can begin right here with this list of ways to invite the Psalms into your Lent devotions.
9 Ways to Invite the Psalms into Your Lent Devotions
#1. Read
You could simply read the psalm one time each week. Open your Bible. Read. You will be blessed. If you want to spend more time with the psalm, you could read one every day since there are seven psalms and seven days in the week.
No rules. Just do what works for you. Be flexible.
Remember that you can listen to the psalm on one of the numerous Bible apps available, so it’s something you can do on your morning commute or while you are washing the breakfast dishes.
#2. Scribe
If you want to add more depth to your psalm-reading, try scribing the psalm. It’s nothing fancier than copying it onto another piece of paper.
I like to do this in a notebook where I scribe other passages as well. But again, no rules. Take a lined piece of paper and write the psalm. You will be surprised by how much richer the reading experience is when you do this.
Here’s a spiral Bible which would make this practice even easier! Or use this beautiful single-column journaling Bible.
#3. Pray
Praying the psalm each week or every day is really a no-brainer. After all, the psalms are prayers!
“As we pray the Psalms, therefore, we are returning to God words that he expressly inspired for us to speak and sing to him.” (Praying the Bible by Donald S. Whitney).
How do you pray a psalm? I’ve learned to pause after a line or two and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your words. For example, when I read “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go,” (Psalm 32:8), I immediately consider how teachable I have been lately. Or not teachable. Forgive me, Lord, for failing to listen to your instruction or for taking my own path. Like just yesterday when I . . .
#4. Visual Prayer
As a Visual Faith® Ministry coach, I have practiced and taught many of the beautiful tools which use paper and pen or colored pencil.
With the psalms, you can begin with these alcohol ink pages here or create your own colorful background. Then you scribe the psalm along with words of prayer that come to you as you write. There are no rules to this. Just you and the psalm and the Lord and the paper.
I love this method because it’s not linear which helps some words jump off the Bible, onto the paper, and into my heart.
Another favorite practice is to create (or use a free download) boxes, circles, or a messy grid on a sheet of paper where I can write and color my prayers after reading the psalm. Learn more about this practice here.
#5. Meditate
I used to be afraid of this concept, meditation. I wrote about it here, and this gave me a lot more clarity. Because meditation doesn’t have to be this “woo-woo” thing. Meditating is “dwelling upon.” And you can dwell in God’s Word by reading it thoughtfully, slowly. Without rushing as if it’s a race.
God’s Word promises something. Actually, His Word promises lots of things, but one really important promise is here in Isaiah 55:
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Beautiful. It shall accomplish that which I purpose. Maybe God’s purpose in one moment of frenzy is that you pause, breathe, and dive into His Word. Even if it’s one verse. One Psalm. One passage.
There it is. A simple way to meditate.
#6. Verse Map
This is another wonderful study practice where you take a deeper dive into the passages you are reading for Lent or for anytime. I wrote a Beginner’s Guide here which will give you the basics.
#7. Journal
Some of you are journalers, and if this is your practice, then what a beautiful way to connect your psalm reading to your journaling. Read the psalm and then write about what you just read. Sometimes I like to freewrite when I journal. This is where I don’t lift my pen from the page. I just let the words flow without stopping. This can be exactly what you need to loosen up the cobwebs of something that has been troubling you. And you didn’t even know it was troubling you.
#8. Lament
The Prayer of Lament is a newer-to-me Visual Faith practice which gives the freedom to write what is on our hearts without fear that someone will read it. Perhaps it’s your current painful season, and you haven’t shared it with anyone. Maybe it’s the sins you want to confess. Here’s a simple explanation of the process.
- Tools. A 5 x 8 card index card, white. And a pen.
- Start at the top of the card and write your heart-cries or confession with large handwriting, sloppy is good. Fill the card.
- Turn the card 90 degrees (one-quarter) and continue your prayer. Write over the top of your previously written words.
- Turn the card again. 90 degrees. Write more.
- Freewrite. Don’t let your pen stop. If you can’t think of anything to write, then just write, “Why, O Lord?” or “How long, O Lord?” which echoes the psalms. Before long, you will have more words to write.
- If you want, turn the card once again and finish your prayer.
- You won’t be able to read your words. Neither will anyone else.
- Finish by taking a smaller piece of colorful paper – rectangle – and writing a short Bible verse to remind you that this situation and this sin and this season is redeemed by your loving and faithful God.
I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. This is a good one: But take heart; I have overcome the world.
#9. Give thanks!
Each of these penitential psalms includes hope and thankfulness and the truth that God has not deserted the psalmist. He has not abandoned us. He hears our prayers, our laments, our confessions. So while we remember with all seriousness our sins, we dare not stay there. This penitential season comes to an end with the Celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord, and we look to the empty cross and the empty tomb for the victory that is ours in Christ.
Spend some time after reading each psalm to focus on this Gospel promise tucked into each one. Let your heart settle there, and give thanks!
The Lord has heard my plea;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
It is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
an uphold me with a willing spirit.
The children of your servants shall dwell secure;
their offspring shall be established before you.
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.
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