Read Psalm 119:75-80.
Prayer involves speaking forth the truths we know about God and petitioning Him for the things we need. The Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6:9-15) begins with worship, acknowledging our relationship with God (‘our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name’) before moving on to pray ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’)
Ps 119 touches us so powerfully because of the truths it proclaims: ‘Your hands made me and formed me’ (Ps 119:73); ‘I know, O Lord, that Your laws are righteous’ (Ps 119:75). It speaks of God’s faithfulness (Ps 119:75) and unfailing love (Ps 119:76), essential attributes of God’s nature. But it also touches us because it lays out petitions for us to pray:
- ‘Give me understanding to learn Your commands’ (Ps 119:73)
- ‘May Your unfailing love be my comfort’ (Ps 119:76)
- ‘Let Your compassion come to me, that I may live’ (Ps 119:77)
- ‘May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause’ (Ps 119:78)
- ‘May my heart be blameless toward Your decrees, that I may not be put to shame’ (Ps 119:80)
This combination of truth and petition provides a framework for our prayer life. The Psalms are our guide through prayer which is rooted in God. Prayer will always be highly personal and personally specific; it is not vague, rambling or selfish, for it is rooted in God’s Word and anchored in His character, shaped and formed by His Word. When we read the great prayers of Advent (Luke 1:46-55. Luke 1:67-80), we see the same themes of worship, proclamation and petition guiding us in our own prayers.