Category: Rewritten Psalms

I sing your praises, O God,
For you called me out of darkness,
When I was in the depths of despair,
You lifted me up and taught me to hope again.

Now I can rejoice because I know you are with me always.
You are with me in joy and in sorrow;
Celebrating with me in the light;
And showing me the gift in the dark.

You have helped me to find a strength within myself,
That I didn’t know that I possessed;
A strength rooted in your love,
That guides me in all I do.

When I was lost and cried out for help,
You found me and sent people to help light my way.
Use me now, O God, as you see fit,
To light the way for others;
So all may sing your praises!

For the original Psalm visit https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+30&version=NRSV

Open your mind, to see God at work in creation.
Open your hearts, to hear God’s call.

God moves through all things;
Connecting all things;
Inspiring all things.

Listen, do you hear?
Do you hear God’s voice in the gently whispering wind?
Do you hear God’s voice in the softly burbling stream?
Do you hear God’s voice in the encapsulating stillness of the forest?

Listen, do you hear?
Do you hear God’s voice in the warm crackling of a fire?
Do you hear God’s voice in the bustle of movement in the city centre?
Do you hear God’s voice in the unique and diverse ways animals communicate?

Listen, do you hear?
Do you hear God’s voice in powerful pounding of a waterfall?
Do you hear God’s voice in the loud crack of thunder?
Do you hear God’s voice in the wail of an electric guitar?

Listen, do you hear?
God’s voice is all around us;
Connecting and uniting;
Comforting and guiding.

Listen, do you hear?
What is God calling you to?

For the original Psalm visit https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+29&version=NRSV

God you are my centre and my guide;
Without you I would be lost.
Once again I look to you for direction;
For help walking your path of love.

Because there is so much hate working its way into our world;
Political violence and unrest;
People making selfish choices in this time of pandemic
without thinking about how they impact everyone around them;
Discrimination against people because of their race, religion, gender, sexuality, ability…
Discrimination against people for simply being who you made them to be.
And the people spreading this hate and inciting this violence
are claiming to do it in your name!
It angers me to the very centre of my soul!
To the depth of me being!
How can people doing these unspeakable acts of hate
think they are working in your name?!
Help them to see the error in their ways,
And cleanse my heart of the anger taking root in me,
So that I may respond in love
and help to dismantle these places of discrimination.

Praise and thanksgiving to you God,
For I know you hear my prayers,
And this time of trial will not last for ever.

Though there are many places suffering in the world,
You are there with us,
Inspiring good works and facilitating change.

For the original Psalm visit https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+28&version=NRSV

God you pulled me from the darkness;
So, what do I have to fear with you by my side?
You are my strength when I am weak;
My courage when I am afraid.

I still see so much evil in the world;
People hurting others, denying their rights,
and trying to assert dominance over the marginalized,
But I trust their reign of terror will not last.

In world that cries out for division;
I still hope for unity.
Though we still to often resort to violence to settle our differences;
I trust that we can and will change for the better.

Because your Love is still at work in the world;
Inspiring people to do good works,
To speak out against injustices,
And give voice to those who were silenced!

I know it is a road that won’t be easy;
I know it won’t happen overnight;
But if we trust in your goodness,
And are embolden by your strength,
We can make positive change!

Help me, O God, to be a part of that change.
Cleanse my heart of hatred and sin,
So I am not tempted to descend to the level of the people spreading hate.

Teach me to live my life in your love;
To spread joy, not hate;
To help others see the place of good in the world;
So, we can help that goodness to spread.

Give me the strength and courage
to wait for your guidance,
So that each step I take
leads me closer to you.

Amen!

For the original Psalm visit https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+27&version=NRSV

Support my claims, O God,
that I have tried followed you path truly,
and trust your guidance without question.
Search my heart,
and let in show my unending love for you,
and my faithfulness to your plan.

I cannot abide people
who spread hate in your name.
I hate to see people hurting one another,
and will not stand by as people doing wrong.

I try to maintain innocence from these ill deeds,
and worship you for your guidance,
singing songs of praise and thanksgiving
for the example you have set.

God, I love the path you have chosen for me
calling me to care and compassion.
Help me to live a life of love
so that I may follow in your righteousness.

As long as I have you to guide me
I will walk truly with confidence.
You set a clear path before me,
and for that I am truly grateful.

For the original Psalm visit https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+26&version=NRSV

I give my life to you,
O God.

I trust you to lead me on the right path;
To help me to do good in the world
And help me to not be overwhelmed by the challenges I may face.
I know that if I follow you truly
I will live a life to be proud of.

Show me your way,
Guide each step I take to follow you.
Teach me to care for creation and serve others,
To trust in you completely,
And always follow you.
Forgive me for the mistakes I made in the past,
Help me not to make more mistakes in the future,
And hold me in your love, O God.

For you are truly goodness and love.
One cannot sin when following you completely.
Help me to follow you so truly,
So I may be surround by your goodness and mercy,
And share it with everyone I meet!

Open the hearts of all your people so that they may know your generosity;
And so that we may share that generosity for the good of all.

Be with me God,
For there are still many times I feel alone.
Help me to release the ghosts of my past;
That are standing in the way of my ability to truly connect with others.
Help me to find the gifts in my struggles,
And to let go of all that is no longer serving me.

Be with me know as I face this world of uncertainty;
Still my mind and calm my heart,
So that I may see through all the hatred and division in the world,
And begin to see the places where your light and love are breaking through.

For you are in all of creation,
And if we open our hearts to you;
We will finally be free of all the hate and fear we inflict upon ourselves.
Be with us now, O God!

For the original Psalm visit https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+25&version=NRSV

God created all things;
From the smallest particles to vast oceans.
All people, animals, matter, creation,
Belong to God.

Who will rise above the mundane to be in a holy place?
A place where they can be in full communion with God.
Those who are true and authentic,
Who do not waste time chasing false idols,
And live honestly.
They will know God’s blessing
And dwell with God for all time.
This is what to strive for
If you are seeking to know God more fully.

Lift up your hearts,
Raise your voice in song,
And invite God into this place.
Who is God?
God is Holy Mystery and Wholly Love.
God is your comfort, your guide and your strength.
Lift up your hearts,
Raise your voice in song,
And invite God into this place.
Who is God?
God is in all things and arounds all things.
Let us praise God together!

For the original Psalm visit https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+24&version=NRSV

God you are the true guide in my life.
You offer my rest when I am weary,
You provide nourishment to restore my soul,
You nudge (or when I am being stubborn shove) me in the right direction
when I stray from my path.

I know that I will face many challenges in life,
But I know longer fear them,
Because I know you are with
To comfort and to guide me;
All through my life.

You guide me to lessons
That help me face upcoming challenges.
You open my eyes
To see you blessing in all things – even the tough stuff!
You continue to be with me,
inviting me into your goodness and mercy.
I am so grateful to able to know you in my life!

For the original Psalm visit https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+23&version=NRSV

God, why do I feel so alone?
Why do I feel like you don’t care what happens to me?
I cry out in my distress, but do you even listen?
I am exhausted!
I can’t keep going on like this.

I know you are powerful God!
I grew up hearing stories about how you saved the Hebrew people from slavery;
how you blessed Abraham and Sarah with a baby even at their advanced age;
how you sent your son, Jesus, to heal, comfort and inspire people.

Am I not worthy of that kind of support?
Have I not done enough or prayed enough
to garner your attention?
Do I not deserve help?

And yet if I am honest with myself
You are here with me.
You have always been here
watching over me
ever since I was a babe in my mother’s arms.

I am the one who turned away;
who stopped looking for you in my life.
Be with me now,
as the challenges of life threaten to overwhelm.
Help me to recognize your presence
so I don’t feel so alone.

For in the depths of my heart,
I know you are always with me,
Ready to comfort, support and guide me,
And for that I am truly grateful!

For the original Psalm visit https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+22&version=NRSV

God you bless all with unique gifts and abilities
You have placed with in each of a purpose
and provide what we need to fulfil that purpose
when we open ourselves to the path you have laid out for us.

When we follow that path and honour your plan for us
we can do great things in this world!
We can share those blessings with the people around us
so that all may know your wonderful love.

Your plan for us breaks down barriers
and creates all place where all people are loved
and all of creation is cared for.
Help us to bring that world to fruition.

Fill us with your wisdom and your strength
so we can stand together against the evils in the world.
Help us to love indiscriminately
So that all may sing your praises.

For the original Psalm visit https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+21&version=NRSV