Welcome to the Weekly Digest!
Below you will find resources to help you on your journey through the Book of Psalms. We've provided you with a reading plan for the upcoming week, journaling prompts, a weekly Spotify playlist, and ideas for prayer. Be sure to check in every week to see what we have for you next as we continue to enrich our journey through the Psalms.
Reading Plan January 16th-22nd
Psalms 76-80. Read and reflect on Psalm 73 in preparation for Sunday, January 23rd's teaching. You can download the reading guide for the entire series here.
Scripture Memorization
Scripture memorization is an important discipline to introduce to our lives as a way to actively hide God's word in our heart. It allows us to not only internalize the text, but to share that truth with others more readily.
Memory Verses forJanuary: Psalm 71:18-19 ESV
O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.
Journal Prompts
* A quick note on journaling: if you're new to this practice, our journey through the book of Psalms will be a great way to get started. The most important step to forming this discipline in your life is to write anything and write often. Journaling is an incredible way to slow down, digest the content of a text, let your brain internalize thoughts that may come up, and keep a record for future reflection on what God was speaking to you during your reading. Journaling can take many forms such as written prayers, bullet points, stream of consciousness, or even poetry. Try some different methods and find the one that works best for you.
Journal Prompts / Discussion Questions from Today's Teaching
Journal Prompts / Discussion Questions for This Week's Reading
Psalm 76
1. Start by reading this Psalm through once, and underline words or phrases that stand out to you. Then either in your Psalms journal or on a piece of paper, write out this Psalm word for word meditating on words or phrases that stand out to you.
This Psalm is split into two large halves that focus on a “local battle” – that is Zion, which was considered God’s earthly base – and then a “cosmic battle” in the second half of the psalm.
2. We face a lot of “local battles” in just our own families and communities. Knowing that “we fight not against flesh and blood, but powers of darkness”, we can find rest that God sits on the
throne, and has won the cosmic battle, and yet we will still face trials and tribulations of many
kinds. How do you find rest in God sitting on His throne in the midst of all that is happening and
has happened the past two years?
3. Psalm 76:11 says “Make your vows to the LORD your God and perform them…” What vows have you made, or do you need to make, and what are practical steps that you can take to
“performing them”?
Psalm 77
1. When we cry out to God, he hears us. Spend some time praying or journaling your cries to God
2. We know that God is faithful through His Word and through our experience, but there will be
times when our situation leaves us questioning his faithfulness as the Psalmist does from verse
4-9. Think of a time when you were hopeless, and write out what was happening.
- Once you have written that out, like the Psalmist, think on God and how he was working in the
midst of that situation, or what he brought out of that situation.
3. Write down three things that you are thankful that God has done, and meditate on those things
Psalm 78
1. Psalm 78 shows us the power of memory and simplicity. That when we reflect on the deeds of
God and the Word of God, our faith grows.
— What causes deed of God, either in the Bible of in your life, causes your faith to grow?
— What word from God in the Bible causes your faith to grow?
o Whether it’s a verse or a chapter, write out that verse in your Psalms journal by this
Psalm taking time to sift through it again.
Psalm 79
1. What events in life and in this world cause your prayer to increase?
2. How do we find hope in situations where this is no present hope?
- How do we set our Hope in Christ practically, not just doing it with words but in deed as well?
Psalm 80
1. Where are you looking for God’s restoration to take place in your life, in the life of your family,
and in the life of your community?
2. This Psalm contrasts God’s smile – verse 3 it says to “make your face shine”, and in verse 16 it
says “the rebuke of your face”. It makes me think of when my parents use to say to me “I’m not
mad, I’m just disappointed”, and how I was always confused because I knew that they weren’t
just disappointed, but that they were also mad.
- Do you think there are still times when God is mad and disappointed with us, even with the
covering of the Cross?
- Are you more motivated to adhere to his commandments by his anger or his love?
3. Are you resting in his Sovereignty maintaining your responsibility to follow him with your whole life?
Prayer
O God, rule the nations of the earth: May righteousness flourish, and peace abound among the peoples. Use those in positions of power to nurture justice and accomplish peace, in the name of Jesus. Amen!
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