The Psalms have been a book of the Bible that I always come back to. Not because the themes are easy to digest or because I understand everything, but learning ways to engage with a Psalm help them feel real and relatable.
How many times have you felt alone?
Have you ever felt like everything was going against your plans?
How many times have you felt rejected?
Or…
Have you ever wanted to throw your hands up in PRAISE?
The Psalms are Perfect for Summer Bible Reading
June is almost over. Maybe this summer you wanted to read your Bible everyday or you wanted to involve your kids in reading Scripture with you but didn’t know where to start. This is your cue to start here.
The Psalms are great to read over the summer because some of the Psalms are pretty short (Psalm One is only six verses)—easy to read in a few minutes. Then you can read the whole chapter and process it by yourself or with family that’s out of school for the summer. Together you can choose a verse or two to memorize or meditate on throughout the day.
Also, creativity begets creativity. The Psalms are creative, they are poetry. When you read the Psalms and consider the words, you will want to create something. With more freedom in the summer, you have time to process and create, engaging with the Scripture in different ways than just reading it.
Do More Than Check Off Your Reading Plan
How does Scripture become living and active to you? If I just read some verses then move on with my day, there is no transformation. But when I find ways to dwell on the words or to engage my mind and body with more than reading, the message is more likely to be engraved on my heart, leading to a heart that is more reflective of God.
I have a list of ways I choose to process the Psalms. This does not mean you must do each of these every time you read the Bible or that these ideas are the only ways to engage with Bible.
For my Psalms for the Summer series, I’m choosing one way to engage for each chapter of the Psalm. Which one I choose depends on the topic of the Psalm, the length of the reading, and how much time I have.
Nine Ways to Engage with the Psalms
1. Read it multiple times
Read the same chapter more than once and also read from different translations. Use a Bible app that makes it easy to switch between different versions. Find two or three favorites and read those for each chapter.
2. Listen to it
If you’re too busy driving, walking, exercising, working, cleaning…then you can definitely listen to the Psalms. My favorite way to listen to Scripture is the Dwell Bible app. I think you’ll love all the reading plans, voices and background music to choose from! Bonus: Emily P. Freeman will be reading some Psalms this summer on her podcast The Next Right Thing. She’s already shared Psalm 22, 46, 91, and 139 and I think you’ll feel moved by her gentle voice.
3. Define words
Use Google to define large or difficult to understand words. It’s also fun to use the Blue Letter Bible’s Interlinear tool to see the definitions of the original Hebrew words. Use their app or blueletterbible.org.
4. Mediate on a verse
Choose a verse or two that resonate the most with you. Write the words on a notecard then keep it somewhere you’ll see it through out the day. Do your best to say it in your head every time you see the card. Say it slowly as you consider what the words mean. You may have it memorized by the end of the day.
5. Memorize the chapter
Many of the Psalms are as short as 6-8 verses. With a little bit of work you can definitely memorize whole chapters. Psalm One is a great one to try memorizing!
6. Paraphrase it
As a writer, this is one of my favorite ways to engage with Scripture! Rewriting a Psalm in your own words brings even greater understanding. This is where defining words and looking up the original Hebrew words is really useful. It doesn’t have to be fancy or eloquent language; write it in words that are meaningful to you!
7. Pray the Psalm
Use the Psalmist’s words to write a prayer. Pray through each verse or pray what you feel is the general idea of the whole Psalm. If you have time, write down your prayer.
8. Read a devotional
I like to read the Psalm, then write and process through my own thoughts and feelings, then read a devotional (if I have one) to see if I’m close to what others say about the Psalm. The one I’m using for the Psalms is called The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms by Timothy and Kathy Keller. Short readings for each day make it doable on top of what I read in Scripture.
9. Create something
Whatever way you like to be creative, use the Psalm as inspiration. Writing poetry, journaling, painting, hand lettering, cross stitching, taking photos, coloring, drawing, decorating—all ways to engage your body with your mind and heart.
Which of these is something you enjoy or do you have other ways to absorb God’s Word?
Read the Psalms with Me this Summer!
For the month of July, I will be sharing with you words I’ve written and digital art I’ve created inspired by the Psalms. My goal is not for you to pray my words or write the way I write, but to help you engage with the words of the Bible in your own way.
Reading and writing is how I process the world. But maybe for you, you like to talk it out. Find a friend or family member to read along with you and everyday you can discuss the chapter together. Do what works for you!
I want you to read and process, to absorb and digest God’s Word so that it goes from your mind and your heart to your words and actions.
Each day I’ll share the full text of the Psalm that day and share how I processed it. To keep it simple, we’re reading Psalms 1-31, one for each day in July.
I hope you join me and may we be blessed by knowing more of God and more of ourselves. Amen.
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