Do you read the Psalms during your personal devotions? I enjoy reading the Psalms. Personally, God often speaks to me through the words in the Psalms.
Have you considered personalizing your reading of the Psalms? What do I mean by personalizing the reading of the Psalms? Simply – include your name as you read the Psalm. Wait, you say, some Psalms like Psalm 121 are already in first person, that include ‘I’ and ‘you’. That’s true but consider how can you personalize other Psalms by using your name. It may just make a difference to you when you read a Psalm and include your name. Let me give you an example. Psalm 130 closes with these words:
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.
8 It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
By incorporating my name, I say/read the Psalm as follows:
7 Lee, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with the Lord is great power to redeem.
8 God will redeem Lee from all his iniquities.
There’s something powerful about saying your own name, whether out loud or silently. You’re not just reading the words on the page that may say ‘I ‘or ‘you’, reading what you’ve read many times before. I believe putting your name in the Psalm allows you to hear the Psalm in a new way, a fresher way. Perhaps God will speak to you through that Psalm.
If you don’t regularly read the Psalms, find a Psalm in which you can add your name. Try this personalized way of reading a couple of times. Your reaction could surprise you. You may find you want to add reading the Psalms this way to your devotions.
If you do regularly read the Psalms, try adding your name when you read. You may find it gives you a new perspective on the Psalms.
Make it personal!
