Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Surrendering my Treasures

I rejoice over Your promise like one who finds vast treasure.
(Psalm 119:162)
Lord, You are my portion and my cup [of blessing];
You hold my future. (Psalm 16:5)
For our hearts rejoice in Him,
because we trust in His holy name. (Psalm 33:21)
I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. (Psalm 62:1)
My soul, praise the Lord, and all that is within me, praise His holy name.
My soul, praise the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits.
(Psalm 103:1-2)

Lord, You are my treasure.
My confidence, my peace and my security
depend on no one and nothing except You.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Surrendering my Desires

Lord, my every desire is known to You;
my sighing is not hidden from You. (Psalm 38:9)
Whom do I have in heaven but You?
And I desire nothing on earth but You. (Psalm 73:25)
As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God. (Psalm 42:1)
Happy are those who keep His decrees
and seek Him with all their heart. (Psalm 119:2)
Take delight in the Lord,
and He will give you your heart's desires. (Psalm 37:4)

Fill my heart with the desires that You desire.
Grow within me a whole-hearted love for You.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Surrendering my Mind

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow His instructions have good insight.
His praise endures forever. (Psalm 111:10)
I rejoice in the way [revealed by] Your decrees as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on Your precepts and think about Your ways.
I will delight in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word. (Psalm 119:14-16)
I pursue the way of Your commands, for You broaden my understanding. (Psalm 119:32)

Lord, my mind is full of fear and worry.
I ask for Your wisdom and peace.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Surrendering my Resources

O Lord, how many and varied are Your works!
In wisdom have You made them all...
the earth is full of Your riches and Your creatures.
These all wait and are dependent upon You... (Psalm 104:24, 27 AMP)
For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord gives grace and glory;
He does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity.
Lord of Hosts, happy is the person who trusts in You! (Psalm 84:11-12)
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8)

Lord, You promise to provide all the resources I need to live a godly life.
I trust You and depend on You.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Surrendering my Message

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
(Psalm 40:1-3)
Sing to the Lord, you His faithful ones,
and praise His holy name. (Psalm 30:4)
I will speak of Your glorious splendor and Your wonderful works.
(Psalm 145:5)
And my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness,
Your praise all day long. (Psalm 35:28)

Lord, I ask for a song today—a song of praise
to my faithful Redeemer.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Surrendering my Audience

Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, Lord.
You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me. (Psalm 139:4-5)
I will praise You forever for what You have done.
In the presence of Your faithful people, I will put my hope in Your name, for it is good. (Psalm 52:9)
I put my hope in You, Lord; You will answer, Lord my God. (Psalm 38:15)


As You choose my audience (my sphere of influence and ministry)
it may be smaller or larger or completely different from my expectations.
I surrender to Your choice, as I depend on You.

a Welcome to Praise Patterns

The ladies at Lewis and Clark Church in Astoria, Oregon are beginning a study of Praise Patterns. Here is my welcome to them.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Surrendering my Location

I call to You from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength.
Lead me to a rock that is high above me. (Psalm 61:2)
For You are my rock and my fortress: You lead and guide me because of Your name. (Psalm 31:3)
You are near, Lord, and all Your commands are true. (Psalm 119:151)
God--His way is perfect...
God--He clothes me with strength and makes my way perfect. (Psalm 18:30,32)
This God, our God forever and ever--He will lead us eternally. (Psalm 48:14)

Lord, I know You placed me in this location for a reason.
Show me how to serve You here.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Surrendering my Talents

Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are His —
His people, the sheep of His pasture. (Psalm 100:2-3)
But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory,
and the One who lifts up my head. (Psalm 3:3)
Give the Lord the glory due His name...(Psalm 29:2)
Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory
because of Your faithful love, because of Your truth.(Psalm 115:1)

Show me, Lord, my place in Your body,
and my unique way of expressing Your love
and giving glory to You.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Surrendering my Day

Let me experience Your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in You.
Reveal to me the way I should go, because I long for You. (Psalm 143:8)
I call to You for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer meets You. (Psalm 88:13)
On the day I called, You answered me;
You increased strength within me. (Psalm 138:3)
I exalt You, my God the King, and praise Your name forever and ever.
I will praise You every day; I will honor Your name forever and ever.
(Psalm 145:1-2)

I gave You my life decades ago.
Here's my today;
I am watching expectantly for You to guide my steps.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Surrendering my Life

This God, our God forever and ever—He will lead us eternally. (Psalm 48:14)
He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name's sake.
(Psalm 23:3)
You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy;
in Your right hand are eternal pleasures. (Psalm 16:11)
I delight to do Your will, my God; Your instruction resides within me.
(Psalm 40:8)
I will rejoice and be glad in Your faithful love
because You have seen my affliction.
You have known the troubles of my life. (Psalm 31:7)

My life is Yours. You are my roots—my anchor, my source.
You enable and direct my growth.
Show me how to live in the environment You've placed me.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praising the Faithful God

...The Lord is faithful in all His words
and gracious in all His actions. (Psalm 145:13)
...The Lord's plans stand firm forever;
His intentions can never be shaken. (Psalm 33:11)
May Your faithful love comfort me,
as You promised Your servant. (Psalm 119:76)
I rejoice over Your promise like one who finds vast treasure.
(Psalm 119:162)
I will sing about the Lord's faithful love forever;
with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness
to all generations. (Psalm 89:1)
To You, my strength, I sing praises, because God is my stronghold—
my faithful God. (Psalm 59:17)

Thank You Lord, for Your faithfulness on both sunny and stormy days.
Your presence in the daylight and the darkness is my comfort and strength.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praising God my Provider

...The Lord will provide what is good. (Psalm 85:12)
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. (Psalm 23:1 NLT)
You satisfy me as with rich food; my mouth will praise You with joyful lips.
When on my bed I think of You,
I meditate on You during the night watches because You are my help;
I will rejoice in the shadow of Your wings. (Psalm 63:5-7)
For the Lord God is our sin and our shield. He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
(Psalm 84:11 NLT)
I will sing to the Lord because He has dealt bountifully with me.
(Psalm 13:6 NKJV)

Lord my Provider, I choose to watch for You today,
looking up from my concerns to focus on You.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praising the Most High

For the Lord Most High is awe-inspiring,
a great King over all the earth. (Psalm 47:2)
The heavens proclaim His righteousness;
all the peoples see His glory. (Psalm 97:6)
For You, Lord are the Most High over all the earth;
You are exalted above all the gods. (Psalm 97:9)
The one who lives under the protection of the Most High
dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)
I call to God Most High,
to God who fulfills [His purpose] for me. (Psalm 57:2)
It is good to praise the Lord,
to sing praise to Your name, Most High. (Psalm 92:1)

Lord Most High, You are awe-inspiring and dependable.
When my life is foggy with uncertainty I depend on You.
You plan, You judge, You rule—I trust.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praising the Father of Mercies

I will sing of mercy and justice; to You, O Lord, I will sing praises.
(Psalm 101:1 NKJV)
Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. (Psalm 36:5 NKJV)
O satisfy us early with Your mercy,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days! (Psalm 90:14 NKJV)
But I will sing of Your power;
yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;
For You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.
(Psalm 56:16 NKJV)
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 107:1 NKJV)

Father of Mercies, You are my strength and my stronghold. I trust that You will deliver, protect and provide for me today.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praising the Holy One

He looked down from His holy heights—
the Lord gazed out from heaven to earth—
to hear a prisoner's groaning, to set free those condemned to die,
so that they might declare the name of the Lord...(Psalm 102:19-21)
Sing to the Lord, you His faithful ones, and praise His holy name. (Psalm 30:4)
Honor His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
(Psalm 105:3)
Worship the Lord in the splendor of [His] holiness;
tremble before Him, all the earth. (Psalm 96:9)
God, Your way is holy. What god is great like God? (Psalm 77:13)

Holy One, You are glorious and magnificent, loving and forgiving.
I draw near to You humbly yet confidently,
honoring You and rejoicing in You.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praising the God Who Sees

The Lord looks down from heaven; He observes everyone.
He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth from His dwelling place.
(Psalm 33:13-14)
Now the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him—those who depend on His faithful love. (Psalm 33:18)
Lord, You have searched me and known me. (Psalm 139:1)
A man's steps are established by the Lord,
and He takes pleasure in his way.
Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,
because the Lord holds his hand. (Psalm 37:23)

How amazing Lord, that You see me and think of me! You uphold me and enable me to serve You. Thank You!

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praising God my Savior

Let Your faithful love come to me, Lord,
Your salvation, as You promised. (Psalm 119:41)
I will give thanks to You because You have answered me
and have become my salvation. (Psalm 118:21)
May the Lord be praised! Day after day He bears our burdens;
God is our salvation. Selah. (Psalm 68:19)
Lord God, my strong Savior,
You shield my head on the day of battle. (Psalm 140:7)
The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom should I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)
I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. (Psalm 62:1)

My Savior, You are my refuge and my light.
I trust Your promise of eternal life.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praising God, my Exceeding Joy

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God. (Psalm 43:5)
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God. (Psalm 43:4 NKJV)
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
shout for joy, all you upright in heart. (Psalm 32:11)
Happy are the people who know the joyful shout;
Lord, they walk in the light of Your presence. (Psalm 89:15)

O Lord, You exceed--You are greater than--
my petty worries and the scary stories on the news tonight.
I praise You! I will serve You with a glad heart.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praising the Mighty God

Greater than the roar of many waters—the mighty breakers of the sea—
the Lord on high is majestic. (Psalm 93:4)
You rule the raging sea; when its waves surge, You still them.
(Psalm 89:9)
They rejoiced when the waves grew quiet.
Then He guided them to the harbor they longed for.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love
and His wonderful works for the human race. (Psalm 107:30-31)
You who have done great things; God, who is like You? (Psalm 71:19b)
Lord God of Hosts, who is strong like You, Lord?
Your faithfulness surrounds You. (Psalm 89:8)

O Mighty One, I praise You for the storms You silence and the storms You guide me through. I rejoice in today's quietness, and I trust You for the future.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praising Your Wonderful Lord

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare Your praise. (Psalm 51:15)
My soul, praise the Lord! Lord my God, You are very great;
You are clothed with majesty and splendor. (Psalm 104:1)
Sing to Him, sing praise to Him;
tell about all His wonderful works!(Psalm 105:2)
I will speak of Your glorious splendor
and Your wonderful works. (Psalm 145:5)
I will praise the Lord at all times;
His praise will always be on my lips. (Psalm 34:1)

Wonderful Lord, too often I am silent or distracted or talking to someone else—open my lips to declare Your praise.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praying for a Message

Guide me in Your truth and teach me for You are the God of my salvation;
I wait for You all day long. (Psalm 25:5)
Help me understand Your instruction,
and I will obey it and follow it with all my heart. (Psalm 119:34)
How sweet Your word is to my taste—[sweeter] than honey to my mouth...
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. (Psalm 119:103-105)
The revelation of Your words brings light
and gives understanding to the inexperienced. (Psalm 119:130)
Your decrees are my delight and my counselors. (Psalm 119:24)
You guide me with Your counsel,
and afterwards You will take me up in glory. (Psalm 73:24)

O Lord, so many voices clamor for my attention today; help me discern Your still small voice. Make your instructions clear to me and I will follow You with all my heart.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praying for an Opportunity to Witness

I will speak of Your glorious splendor and Your wonderful works. (Psalm 145:5)
Come and listen, all who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for me.
(Psalm 66:16)
My mouth will tell about Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot sum them up. (Psalm 71:15)
...We, Your people,the sheep of Your pasture, will thank You forever;
we will declare Your praise to generation after generation. (Psalm 79:13)
We give thanks to You, God; we give thanks to You,
for Your name is near. People tell about Your wonderful works. (Psalm 75:1)

Lord, give me a message to share, a listener in need of Your love, and the courage to speak up.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praying with Gratitude

I will praise the Lord at all times;
His praise will always be on my lips. (Psalm 34:1)
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You
because You have redeemed me. (Psalm 71:23)
Lord my God, You have done many things—
Your wonderful works and Your plans for us;
none can compare with You. (Psalm 40:5)
May the Lord be praised! Day after day He bears our burdens...(Psalm 68:19)
Only goodness and faith love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live. (Psalm 23:6)

Thank You Lord for saving me, for planning my future, and for carrying my burdens.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praying for Godliness

Happy are those who keep His decrees
and seek Him with all their heart...
I will praise You with a sincere heart
When I learn Your righteous judgments...
I have sought You with all my heart;
don't let me wander from Your commands.
I have treasured Your word in my heart;
so that I may not sin against You...
Make my steps steady through Your promise;
don't let sin dominate me. (Psalm 119:2,7,10-11,133)

Lord, I want to seek You with all my heart, but I get distracted. Transform me from the inside out, making my attitudes and actions reflect You.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praying for a Constant Awareness of God

At daybreak Lord, You hear my voice;
at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly. (Psalm 5:3)
Be gracious to me, Lord, for I call to You all day long. (Psalm 86:3)
How I love Your teaching!
It is my meditation all day long. (Psalm 119:97)
The Lord will send His faithful love by day:
His song will be with me in the night—a prayer to the God of my life.
(Psalm 42:8)
You are aware of all my ways...
You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me. (Psalm 139:3,5)

Lord, You are aware of everything I do.
Lord, in everything I do, may I be aware of You.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praying in Faith

For You are great and perform wonders;
You alone are God. (Psalm 86:10)
Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are His—
His people, the sheep of His pasture. (Psalm 100:3)
Give the Lord the glory due His name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of [His] holiness. (Psalm 29:2)
I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.
The Lord values those who fear Him,
those who put their hope in His faithful love. (Psalm 147:11)
You are my hope, Lord God, my confidence from my youth. (Psalm 62:7)

You are great and holy. I praise and trust You today, my hope, my confidence, my wonderful Lord.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praying for Strength

God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1)
Listen closely to me: rescue me quickly.
Be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me.
For You are my rock and my fortress;
You lead and guide me because of Your name. (Psalm 31:2-3)
I call to You from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength.
Lead me to a rock that is high above me. (Psalm 61:2)
For who is God besides the Lord? And who is a rock?
Only our God. (Psalm 18:31)
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold;
I will not be shaken. (Psalm 62:2)

I praise You, God, for Your limitless resources of strength. Thank You for loving me and encouraging me, my Refuge, my Helper, my Rock.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praying for Protection

You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble.
You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7)
When I am afraid, I will trust in You. (Psalm 56:3)
In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord whose word I praise,
In God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Psalm 56:10-11)
You have been a refuge for me,
a strong tower in the face of the enemy. (Psalm 61:3)
For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord gives grace and glory;
He does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity. (Psalm 84:11)

When I am afraid, Lord, help me not only to trust, but to praise!

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Praying for Light

The Light of the World brings light to our hearts. This enlightenment begins when we believe in Jesus Christ as Savior. Then, for the rest of our lives, whenever we face the darkness of uncertainty or despair, Christ the Light continues to brighten our lives, illuminating and guiding us with the knowledge of His will.

Lord, You light my lamp; my God illuminates my darkness. (Psalm 18:28)
The revelation of Your words brings light and gives understanding to the inexperienced.
(Psalm 119:130)
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105)
You guide me with Your counsel, and afterwards You will take me up in glory.
(Psalm 73:24)
Open my eyes so that I may see wonderful things in Your law. (Psalm 119:18)

Lord, I ask You to reveal truth to me today. Fill me with the knowledge of Your will, and guide my feet on Your path.


Looking for other 31 Day series? Look here.

Keep Calm and Read Psalms: Calling on God

All my blogging friends seem to have a 31 Days of Something or Other this month. I thought I'd jump into the trend. I'm calling it "Keep Calm and Read Psalms."

The book of Psalms gives us a pattern for praying honestly as well as eloquently—not because God doesn't hear simple spur-of-the-moment prayers (He does!), but because, when circumstances allow, He is worthy of thoughtful meditative prayer. Praying the Psalms also inserts a note of triumphant praise into our prayers, lifting our gaze from our needs and our requests to focus on the Lord Himself.

Sometimes I pray a Psalm exactly as it is written, whispering the words of Scripture directly to God. Other times I meditate on the words of a Psalm and respond to God with a prayer prompted by His word.

Today's Psalms share a theme of calling on God.

Call to Me in a day of trouble;
I will rescue you, and you will honor Me. (Psalm 50:15)
I call on You, God, because You will answer me;
listen closely to me;
hear what I say. (Psalm 17:6)
Know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for Himself;
the Lord will hear when I call to Him. (Psalm 4:3)
Be gracious to me, Lord,
for I call to You all day long.
Bring joy to Your servant's life,
since I set my hope on You, Lord.
For You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive,
abundant in faithful love to all who call on You. (Psalm 86:3-5)
... I call to You for help, Lord;
in the morning my prayer meets You. (Psalm 88:13)