Praying the Story: Learning Prayer from the Psalms

Dunnam and Walt use the psalms as models for pastoral prayers to help a pilgrimage people encounter the Divine in worship. Praying the Story will show how corporate prayer can catalyze the life of congregations and sharpen the mission of the church.

Included are more than fifty pastoral prayers adaptable for worship.

Prayer excerpts:

"Oh God, who, by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus, destroyed death and fulfilled your promise of life forevermore, grant that we may be raised with Him to newness of life and abide in Him, that peace may be ours. Make real to us the price of peace. Emblazon on our minds the wounds in Jesus' hands and side that we may never forget that He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the whole world."

"Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead your people like a flock. You who are enthroned on the cherubim, shine forth. O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains wold quake at your presence. As we remember and celebrate the birth of the baby in Bethlehem, let us not forget that the King is returning."

 

J.D. Walt Jr. is Vice President for Community of Life, and Dean of the Chapel at Asbury Seminary.

Maxie Dunnam is the chancellor of Asbury Theological Seminary; the pastor emeritus of Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis, Tennessee; and the vice-chairperson of World Evangelism of the World Methodist Council. He is the author of several books, including Going on to Salvation: A Study of Wesleyan Beliefs; This Is Christianity; Alive in Christ; and The Workbook of Living Prayer.