Praying Psalm 23
Our church theme for the year is “Building on Prayer”, and our pastor is trying to get the whole congregation to envelope themselves and our church in prayer. In that aspect, he has asked the Council members to take turns praying the congregational prayer during the service. This past Sunday was my turn.
Thinking what what to pray and getting it written down was difficult for me. I started thinking about different prayers in the Bible, and Psalm 23 stuck out for me. I have an interesting re-telling of the Bible called, The Word on the Street by Rob Lacey and it’s version of Psalm 23 is especially powerful. So I took it, tweaked it a little to make it sound more like a prayer, and read it to the congregation. I think that is was very powerful. So here is what I read, which is pretty much was Lacey wrote, and what God wants us to say:
Father God, You’re my guide and my guard, my minder, my mentor What more do I need? What’s better at the center? You sit me down, put my best CD on, And my soul remembers who I am again.
You’re with me, you comfort me, O Lord, And you hold my swayng heart — so soft, so strong You’re with me, you comfort me, Abba Father; You stop them tearing me apart — I fear no wrong. You show me where to go, without telling me; You set a value on my life, without selling me. You’re with me, you comfort me; You’re with me, you comfort me.
You call me to the streets; You show me such good things. Right things with no hidden strings — Just your name on, and it’s game on. Your great repute, like a distant flute it comforts me
I crawl through the alley of the shadow of death, and I know you know the answer, and the battle won’t rattle me. You’re around, and I’ve found there’s something about your empathy, Your symphony of sympathy, that comforts me.
You lay out a table; you sit me down; My rivals arrive from the greatest to the least. But my cup’s held full, and my head’s held high As you boast about me, your least priest, And make them toast me right through the feast,. And you know, Mighty God, how it comforts me.
I know your good, your best, your love and passion Will stalk me, steer me, stand alongside me, Outlast every fad and fashion, through all eternity. For I’m going to live with you, See heaven’s great views from my own cosmic mews, No lease to renew, no terms to review, no one else to view – Just me and you, me and you, me and you, Right through, to the end of time.