Praying the Psalms

This week I come across some of instructions from some holy fathers about beautiful spiritual habit among devout Christians since the ancient times. And surprisingly I found that this wisdom is profound for us to make progress in the path of life that is pleasing to God, namely memorizing the psalms.

We live in the age of internet; instant gratifications and escape from boredom can be reached just one click away. Applications, games, fancy entertainments and social media fit in to be alternative of stressful hours or even spare times in between. More and more young people spend their times online doing games and amusing stuff on the internet.

The very idea of sitting there reading, pondering and memorising the psalms thus is not very appealing. It needs sacrifice and spiritual podvig, at least at the start.

But once we by the grace of Merciful Lord remain steadfast and willing to offer our time in silent and secret meditations of His words, we will soon find how delightful this habit can be! For it nourishes our hearts and minds to dwell unceasingly in the blessed remembrace of The Lord's love through praying the Psalms...

On reading and memorising Psalm 1 in my mother tongue, Indonesian, I find how deep and innumerable is God's wisdom and love in between the words of this first chapter...

It started with blessing from the Lord to avoid the way of the wicked, those ways of life that don't put The Lord in the center of errands, that do not acknowledge God and His love immanent in all things. Not to walk, stand or even sit with such ideas and ways of life. Rather to dwell and to take root in the blessed commandments of the Lord. With such fervent desire and yearning to please God and understand his will... We are to meditate on them day and night.

In this manner thus we will find meaning in life. Instead of focusing and being swept away by rough and merciless storm of passions and self-love, we find our refuge and peace in the Lord's Light. Thus the Lord is with us in every undertaking and with his blessings we will be prosperous as He deigns for the salvations of many.

With constant temptations and trials in life, those who shelter themselves with the love of God stand still in the judgment and they encourage and commend each other in the assembly of righteous but the wicked will be like chaff in the mercy of wind, for they trust not God but their own power and understanding.

Blessed is the Lord unto the ages of ages!