The idea is that we can use the forms used in the book of Psalms to pray our own prayers. But to be honest, I’m a little embarrassed by the psalms of my own I wrote and posted as examples. (But part of the point is that it doesn’t have to be good writing!)<\/p>\n
Here’s the form of a Lament:
\n1) Address to God
\n2) Lament or complaint
\n3) Review of God’s Help (Confession of Trust)
\n4) Petition
\n5) Words of Assurance
\n6) Vow to Praise<\/p>\n
I was thinking about Laments because I currently have multiple friends, relatives, and acquaintances dealing with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses. On top of that, I’m discouraged by what’s happening to our country.<\/p>\n
With a Lament, you’re allowed to question. You’re allowed to complain. You’re allowed to feel pain.<\/p>\n
You do come back around. You remember how God’s helped in the past. You ask for help. You express belief that God will come through. You make promises that you are going to praise God when this is over!<\/p>\n
To be honest, I don’t feel adequate to write a Lament for my friends, or for our country. At least not that I’m willing to post.<\/p>\n
But where I am in my own life is a spacious place. After a long, dark time. After some wilderness wanderings. So I’m going to try a psalm of Thanksgiving. Here’s the form for that:<\/p>\n
Thanksgiving Psalm
\nI) Introduction
\nII) Call to Praise
\nIII) The Story
\n A) Crisis in Retrospect
\n B) Deliverance
\n 1) I called.
\n 2) You heard and you intervened.
\nIV) Praise<\/p>\n
Okay, I’m going to try it. I’m going to be rather vague, in the name of symbolism. (And because I’ve been rescued from obsessive thoughts!) Remember: They don’t have to be great literature. I will probably borrow heavily from the Psalms. And I’m going to try to include parallelism. Also remember that you don’t have to slavishly follow the form.<\/p>\n
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