Psalms is one of my favorite books. Using different genres and invoking an array of emotions, Psalms is a book for the whole person. Psalms are for the intellect, will, and emotions. Each week a new Psalm will be added for reflection and contemplation. As you read the Psalms, pray it will deepen your affections for God and help you express your feelings to God.

Psalms are made up of different genres. Each genre highlights different emotions. Lament, Thanksgiving, Royal, Wisdom, Messianic, Remembrance—just to name a few.

Enter into emotion. The Psalms call readers to acknowledge and name emotion, encouraging us to empathize with the author. They express joy, sadness, love, anger, and thanksgiving, reminding us we are not alone in how we feel.
Pray through the Psalm. Learning to pray through Scripture calls us to slow down and see God’s heart, truth, and posture towards us in the midst of our experiences and feelings.
Reflect on the Psalm. Take time to review the Psalm for the week. Answer the reflection questions. I am praying for you as you reflect in the Psalms each week! Go slowly. Don’t rush. Your purpose is not to accomplish something, but spend time with someone (Jesus).
Take your time. This is not a race! Intentionally make space each day to read and reflect on the Psalm. We are going to spend about a week on each Psalm. The goal is to learn how to linger and enjoy a relationship with God through the reading of His Word.

Day 1: Read the Psalm. Just read it. Maybe read it twice.

Day 2: Answer the Reflection Questions.

Day 3: Personally Reflect on the Psalm. Write some reflections and questions about the Psalm. What is your favorite verse, why?

Day 4: Write a Prayer for yourself based on the Psalm

Day 5: Slowly Reread the Psalm.

Psalm 11 - The Lord Is in His Holy Temple

To the choirmaster. Of David.

1 In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
    “Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
    they have fitted their arrow to the string
    to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3 if the foundations are destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?”

4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
    the Lord's throne is in heaven;
    his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
5 The Lord tests the righteous,
    but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
6 Let him rain coals on the wicked;
    fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
    the upright shall behold his face.

Reflection Questions

What do you look to for refuge?
What are the characteristics of God are seen in this passage?
What does verse 6 mean? Rain coals on the wicked? Fire and sulfur will be their portion?

4. What does a personal prayer for this passage sound like? Are you surprised by what you prayed?

“Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”