Can't Sleep?

Here's an article in the National Catholic Register about not being able to sleep.  It recommends praying the Gradual Psalms.  Those are Psalms 120-134.  I might try it some time but usually,
when I wake in the night I don't want to put on a light to read.  I'll watch TV. 

What I thought was funny was the monk who walked with a lantern (must be a flashlight, nowadays) to see if any monks had fallen asleep.  If he caught a monk sleeping, then the sleeper had to walk with the lantern.  

New Psalm

The news tonight is flooded with the trouble in Egypt.  It seems particularly upsetting because there's always some country whose people are protesting one thing or another.  But this time, the news breaks into the regular programming again, and again.  It's serious.

I started to pray for the Egyptians.  My prayer turned to psalm.  I wrote it down.  As I've said before, the most focused prayer (for me) is psalm writing.  The entire psalm turned into synonymous parallelism.  The outline is Introductory Lament (1), Lament (2-4), Trust (5-9), Praise and Conclusion (10-12).

Psalm (Lament)

(1)Come Lord, help your people.
(2)Rescue the innocent from evil.

(3)The people are angry;
(4)they cannot think, only feel.

(5)I know You are everywhere,
(6)although it seems like you're gone.

(7)You are the God of all.
(8)We are Your people.

(9)You are our refuge.
(10)O glorious God!

(11)Come rescue your people.
(12)O glorious God!

As I pray and look it over, it seems to me that this prayer is universal.  Not only does the psalm apply to the current craziness in Egypt, but to my own country as well.    Amen!

Related articles

• Unrest in Egypt (socyberty.com)
• Obama Tells Egypt's Beset Mubarak That He Must Keep His Promises (themoderatevoice.com)
• Egyptians flood the streets, defying police and calling for regime change - Christian Science Monitor (news.google.com)
• http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-to-write-psalm.html  How to write a Psalm

How to Write a Psalm

Last weekend, I learned how to write a psalm. It is actually helping me to pray better because I am really focused. Let me show you how to write a psalm.

Psalms are like our usual prayers. They are either praising, asking, or thanking. Psalms, however are written in parallel verses connected together by concept. The writing style in Psalms follow a distinct format called parallelism.

One concept is synonymous parallelism. One thought is stated and the next line states the same thought with different words, i.e.: Psalm 1:5

Therefore the wicked will not survive judgment.
Nor will sinners in the assembly of the just.

Another: Psalm 2:3
Let us break their shackles
and cast off their chains!


Another style of verse is antithetic parallelism. One thought is stated and the next line is the opposite, i.e.: Psalm 1:6

The Lord watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.


Another: Psalm 20:8
Some rely on chariots, others on horses,
but we on the name of the Lord our God.

One more type of psalm is synthetic parallelism. One thought is stated and the other verses develop that thought, i.e.: Psalm 1

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
Or stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of mockers
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night

There you go. What do you think?

Try writing using one or more of these methods. What did you notice?

I bet your praying has never been better. Aren't you really focused on praising, thanking, asking, or interceding? Writing psalms were be the perfect activity for Adoration.

I owe my Beloved all,
Yet I forget and sin.

Beloved, I believe
I want to believe more.

Mmmmmmmm. Remember it's the intention that counts. Trying to pray is prayer.

*  Related Post  http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-psalm.html