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Michael Fox CPCC,
founder of m�agine!,
is a professional
coach and trainer,
author and creative artist, whose work has been featured throughout
the world.
Michael is a
Certified Practitioner
of the
Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator.�
Do you know someone
who might benefit
from our weekly email?
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You say you haven't a prayer...
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The beloved book of Psalms was the hymnal and prayer book of ancient Israel. In the balance of the Old Testament, God spoke to Israel, revealing his character, his thoughts, his desires; in the book of Psalms, the people of Israel spoke to God, revealing their character, their thoughts, their desires.
One psalm in particular, Psalm 136, stirs my wonder. It features a simple, repetitive refrain--"For His mercy endures forever"--creating an affecting cadence. It must have been a favorite among ancient worshipers (cf. 2 Chronicles 7:3, 6). C.H. Spurgeon wrote, "It contains nothing but praise. It is tuned to rapture, and can only be fully enjoyed by a devoutly grateful heart" (Treasury of David, Vol. II, p. 1257).
Each of the twenty-six verses of Psalm 136 begins with a reason to give praise to God, followed by the common refrain, "For his mercy endures forever." Here's a portion:
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For his mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For his mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For his mercy endures forever...
To him alone who does great wonders,
For his mercy endures forever;
To him who by wisdom made the heavens,
For his mercy endures forever;
To him who laid out the earth above the waters,
For his mercy endures forever;
To him who made great lights,
For his mercy endures forever--
The sun to rule by day,
For his mercy endures forever;
The moon and stars to rule by night,
For his mercy
endures forever...
Some have speculated that a priest read or sang the first portion of each verse, and the assembly responded with the refrain. Imagine; how stirring! I encourage you to take a moment now and read this remarkable psalm of praise in its entirety...
Now...wait a minute, some of you didn't take the opportunity to read the psalm. Ok, that's better.
Now, use the framework of Psalm 136 to create your own psalm or prayer. There's no need to be a poet. The only requirement is a "devoutly grateful heart." Affirm a quality of God; name--that is, acknowledge--a blessing; or, give expression to a heartfelt need. Then follow with the declaration, "For his mercy endures forever." Lather, rinse, and repeat. Give voice to the spontaneous expressions of your heart, one at a time, following each declaration with the refrain, "For his mercy endures forever."
Go ahead--find a place to sit in solitude or go for a quiet walk--and give it a try. The goal of this activity is to strengthen your expression of thanksgiving and supplication to God, the giver of "every good gift and every perfect gift" (James 1:17).
"Oh give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever."
There are numerous variations of this activity...
Choose a theme when you pray this prayer. For example, if you are struggling with trial, focus your expressions of praise on recalling periods when you have confronted and endured similar trials; or, center your expressions of praise on the blessings of family. Use your creativity!
You might also try this activity with a slight change in the refrain. For example, instead of repeating, "For his mercy endures forever," try one of these variations: "For his love endures forever," or "For his faithfulness endures forever," or even, "For his sense of humor endures forever." Well, use your judgment.
Consider...
How might this activity be helpful if you have difficulty maintaining focus when you pray?
How might this activity be helpful if either you don't know how to pray or if you don't know what to pray for?
How might this activity move your practice of prayer beyond a place of conscious effort?
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Michael Fox
m�agine!
530/613.2774
P.O. Box 9144
Auburn, CA, USA 95604
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In addition to personal and professional coaching,
m�agine! specializes in spiritual transformation coaching,
employing its proprietary models
--Values, Vision, Voice and Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength--
as well as
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator� curriculum
published by CPP, the People Development People.
Michael's books include
Complete in Christ,
Complete in Christ Spiritual Transformation Workbook,
and Biblio�files.
Coaching fees are based upon a sliding scale. Contact us for details.
Limited scholarships are available for spiritual transformation coaching.
On the flip side, if you are able, please inquire about opportunities
to fund scholarships for those who cannot afford coaching fees.
View our archives!
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