Lent Prayer, Week 2: Psalm 121
Throughout Lent, our core team will be practicing consistent rhythms of prayer through a movement that invites participation in personal devotional time, with small groups of prayer partners, and together as one body in our weekly gatherings and prayer meetings. This is the second of six weeks of prayer as we move toward the celebration of Easter. The ”Reflection” component and much of the overall movement has been adapted from Practicing the Way’s four-week Prayer practice, available for free on their site. We invite you to join us as we pray together this week through the words of Psalm 121. If you would like to join one of our prayer partner groups, attend an upcoming core team gathering, or learn more about how we practice our faith in prayer, contact us at info@thegardensa.org today.
Help comes to saints only from above, they look elsewhere in vain: let us lift up our eyes with hope, expectancy, desire and confidence. Satan will endeavor to keep our eyes upon our sorrows that we may be disquieted and discouraged; be it ours firmly to resolve that we will look out and look up, for there is good cheer for the eyes, and they that lift up their eyes to the eternal hills shall soon have their hearts lifted up also.
CHARLES SPURGEON
RHYTHM
Plan on setting aside at least twelve to fifteen minutes at the start of each day this week. (If you already observe such a practice, consider increasing that time for this practice throughout Lent.) Find a space that feels inviting and open, an uncluttered place in your home or outside of it. Put away distractions. Set digital devices to Do Not Disturb. Take a deep breath and rest. Open your time with this prayer from the Book of Common Prayer, presented here in contemporary English:
Almighty God, from whom every good prayer comes, and who pours out on all who desire it the Spirit of grace and mercy: Deliver me as I draw near to you, from a cold heart and a wandering mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affection I may worship you in spirit and in truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Read Psalm 121 in its entirety, pausing between the sections indicated below to seek God in specific ways:
After reading verses 1-2, pray: Lord, thank You that You are present with me in this moment of prayer and in the course of my life. Help me be present with You now.
After reading verses 3-4, bring to God the sin that easily hinders you (Hebrews 12:1) or threatens to make you stumble. Ask for protection in your walk today.
After reading verses 5-6, pray: Lord, thank you that because You are ever-watchful I can rest. Help me do that today. Show me the peace of Your perspective.
After reading verses 7-8, come to God in trust. Lift your eyes to Him and with them the burdens of your day. Tell Him where you most need His care and comfort.
Spend a few minutes in silence, listening to God speak to you, through these words of scripture or in your heart. To end your time, pray this prayer for the beginning of the day written by Metropolitan Philaret and adapted here in contemporary English:
O Lord,
Help me to greet the coming day in peace. Help me in all things to rely upon your holy will. In every hour of the day reveal your will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes throughout the day with peace of soul, and with firm conviction that your will governs everything. In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events, let me not forget that everything is set by you. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without alienating or humiliating others. Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it will bring. Direct my will, teach me to pray, and pray yourself in me.
Amen.
REFLECTION
Throughout the week, reflect on your experience. Prayer is primarily about listening. God initiates the experience, and we take Him up on the awesome invitation to hear His voice.
Sometimes God speaks in different ways. He might remind you of a Bible verse or passage. He might bring someone or something specific to mind. He might bring a picture to mind. If you are new to the experience of prayer, keep in mind that when the Lord speaks to us it is always consistent with what the Bible reveals about His ways and character, and that often when He speaks, we know it's His voice because of how contrary to our flesh and weakness His words sound.
Write down what comes to mind and heart as you pray this week. What has God told you, through His word and in your heart? What has he reminded you about? What has he challenged in you? Who or what has He drawn you to?
Before you meet with your prayer partners this week, prepare for the meeting by answering the following questions about your time practicing this discipline:
Where did I feel resistance?
Where did I feel delight?
Where did I most experience God's nearness?
In addition to these prompts, come prepared to discuss your Lenten fast experience this week by answering the following questions:
How has fasting this week challenged you in cultivating the fruit of kindness and goodness?
How has fasting helped you in cultivating the fruit of kindness and goodness?
Finally, with your prayer partners this week, take time to exchange prayer requests and to intercede for one another in lifting these requests to God. Close by encouraging one another as you surrender to Christ for the work of sanctification in the days ahead of your next meeting.
Find more curated resources, links, devotionals, and more to help you as pray this week under the Resources tab above.
