Changing Me, Change the World: Prayers from the Psalms, Book I

By Lynnda Ell

How do you pray?

Do you think praying is either a fearful mystery or a dry duty? If you want to get past feelings of futility and change your world through prayer, then Changing Me, Change the World is the answer. This book connects Gods Word and your prayers. It will strengthen your faith and instill confidence in you to pray more effectively, molding you into a prayer warrior in the process.

"Most people define prayer as communication with God. However, that is like defining a jet fighter as air transportation; it describes neither its purpose nor its function. The purpose of prayer, in the spiritual war we fight daily, is to release Gods will on earth; it functions as a weapon delivery system. The writer of Hebrews says, The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword. Prayer, the arm of spiritual warfare, wields the sword of the Word.

Changing Me, Change the World models these concepts by turning the forty-one chapters in Book One of the Psalms into contemporary and passionate prayers. These prayers look deeply at a variety of topics including confession, joyful praise, healing, the persecuted church, and many others. It solidly connects the Word of God and prayers offered according to Gods will. It will lead another step further in your spiritual maturity. It looks to strengthen your faith and to instill confidence in your ability to pray effectively, molding you into a prayer warrior in the process."

You will discover: a deeper, more satisfying prayer life as you meditate on these Psalms and prayers, passionate, engaging language that addresses problems you face in your life every day, prayers you can pray with confidence because they have a solid biblical foundation, a heightened awareness of meaningful issues outside of your daily life, a desire to return to Changing Me, Change the World as new situations arise.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 6, 2010
• ISBN: 9781449700041

Lynnda Ell

Lynnda Ell, a committed Christian for more than fifty years, decided that her retirement from a career in electrical engineering gave her the perfect opportunity to write books on getting personal with God. She is the author of three books (a trilogy of prayers from the Psalms), a contributor to several devotional books, and a blogger at lynndaell.com. She and her mother share a home in Sulphur Springs, Texas.

Book preview

Contents

INTRODUCTION

PSALM 1

CHOOSING THE WAY OF LIFE

PSALM 2

WHY DO THE NATIONS CONSPIRE?

PSALM 3

I AM SUSTAINED

PSALM 4

BREAKING THROUGH POWER STRUGGLES

PSALM 5

YOU MAKE MY DAY

PSALM 6

GRIEF WITH GRAY HAIR

PSALM 7

PSALM OF THE INNOCENT

PSALM 8

PSALM OF THE NIGHT SKY

PSALM 9

JUDGE OF THE NATIONS

PSALM 10

PREDATORS OF THE POOR

PSALM 11

NOT RUNNING AWAY

PSALM 12

FALSE WORDS AND TRUE

PSALM 13

FIFTY-SEVEN FOREVERS

PSALM 14

EMPTY-HEADED FOOLS

PSALM 15

MIRROR IMAGE

PSALM 16

A BLESSING OF MY OWN

PSALM 17

PRAYER OF THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

PSALM 18

GREAT DELIVERANCE

PSALM 19

THE REAL MESSAGE OF THE STARS

PSALM 20

THE PRAYER OF BLESSING

PSALM 21

GOD’S POWER TO BLESS, GOD’S STRENGTH TO DESTROY

PSALM 22

CONTEMPLATION OF THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST

PSALM 23

THE BLESSINGS OF OBEDIENCE

PSALM 24

THE EARTH FROM AGE TO AGE

PSALM 25

WALKING BY FAITH

PSALM 26

PROTECTION FROM HARMFUL CRITICISM

PSALM 27

GETTING PAST FEAR

PSALM 28

SMOOTH-TALKING OPERATORS

PSALM 29

THE SONG OF THE THUNDERSTORM

PSALM 30

I AM HEALED!

PSALM 31

FORGIVENESS FOR SIN

PSALM 32

REFLECTING ON FORGIVENESS

PSALM 33

THE POWER OF GOD’S SPOKEN WORD

PSALM 34

FREEDOM FROM OVERWHELMING FEAR

PSALM 35

DEATH BY GOSSIP

PSALM 36

THE DESIRE TO DESTROY

PSALM 37

FUTILE FRETTING

PSALM 38

CRY OF REPENTANCE

PSALM 39

OPEN MOUTH, INSERT FOOT

PSALM 40

GRATITUDE FOR DELIVERANCE

PSALM 41

THE BEDFAST PSALM

To my mother, Muriel Watson,

and in memory of my father,

John Eubanks.

INTRODUCTION

Answered prayer is a powerful force for change. I do not know why God chose to give us access to His power through prayer. From the time He created Adam and Eve, He gave us authority over the earth and told us to take care of it. (Genesis 1:28) He made us stewards of the earth with the responsibility of fulfilling His purpose. We lost that authority, and the power to use it, when we rebelled against God and ceased being His stewards. However, when God reconciled us to Himself by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, He restored that authority. As His redeemed children, we have power again to be His stewards. One of the ways we access that power is by praying.

An effective way to release God’s power through prayer is to pray the words He has given us in the Bible. We stand on a very firm foundation when we pray from the Bible. The writer of Hebrews says, The word of God is… sharper than any two-edged sword. (Hebrews 4:12) Praying Scripture in agreement with God gives this weapon a delivery system. Prayer is the arm that wields the sword.

I wrote Changing Me, Change the World to encourage you to meditate on Psalms, the prayer-songs of the Bible, and to show you one way of praying them. Some of the prayers are deeply personal. Other prayers look past our needs and connect with other issues and other parts of God’s kingdom. The prayers in this book are open-ended—that is, I did not end them with amen or with In Jesus’s name, amen. This gives you the opportunity to continue praying in your own words as the Holy Spirit leads you.

Use these prayers as stepping-stones to greater intimacy with God. Read the Psalms and the prayers. Think about them. Pray them aloud. As you spend time with Him, the Holy Spirit will show you how to find your own words. He will guide you to pray for specific issues to accomplish His purpose. You will live an adventure unlike any you could have imagined. You will see God’s will unfold on earth as it is in heaven. How exciting is that?

Be blessed!

Lynnda Ell

New Orleans, LA

PSALM 1

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

CHOOSING THE WAY OF LIFE

Lord, I greatly desire this blessing You give for not listening to the counsel of the ungodly.

Follow us! shout the commercials. Buy this! Watch that! We know how you should live. Listen to us! Everywhere I turn, advertisements demand my attention.

God, I am tempted. Many times the life they show sounds easy and fun. Sometimes I would like to go there, buy that, and live a carefree life, especially when I am tired and my life seems more than I can handle.

Truly, Lord, I want to follow only Your plans and purposes. Your Word shows me the eternal end of the ones who follow the counsel of the ungodly. I see the twisted lives of those who walk with sinners. I know the dark and empty thoughts of those who live as scornful mockers. No matter how beguiling the temptations of those who give ungodly counsel, You have shown me the truth behind the lies. I reject the counsel of the ungodly, the path of sinners, and the seat of the scornful.

Lord, my delight is in You, and my desire is in following Your law. I want to think about You and meditate on Your law night and day. Plant me firmly by Your streams of living water so I will bring forth fruit in Your seasons. Let me not wither but prosper according to Your Word.

Father, let those who are wicked see that their lives are worthless without You. Show them that the end of their lives will be judgment and ruin. Let them seek a righteous life in You that lasts for eternity.

PSALM 2

1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,

3 Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.

5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,

6 As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.

7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you.

8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel."

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

WHY DO THE NATIONS CONSPIRE?

Lord, why do the nations conspire against You? Why do their citizens vainly imagine that they can dream up a scheme to escape Your control?

You know that our country is chief among the rebels. We choose leaders who do not know You. They take their places in the government and pass laws that ignore You. They disregard the consequences of their actions and close their eyes to the effects these laws have upon Your people. Some of them purposely rebel against You. Others are indifferent to Your Way. The evil they release causes all of us to suffer.

Praise Your name, oh Lord! Regardless of the sinful ways of our leaders, You are in control. You must be much amused at their feeble attempts to forestall Your holy will and purpose. In scorn, You bring to their attention that there is only one true King. You have chosen Him and chosen His throne. You have crowned Your only begotten Son and placed Him on Your holy hill of Zion.

Blessed is the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord! You have given the nations as His inheritance and the uttermost parts of the world as His possession. He rules in hearts today. Yet the time is coming—and soon—oh God, when You will send Your Son to rule the nations with a rod of iron. He will break the rebellion of the rulers as a potter breaks a badly shaped bowl.

Warn our leaders again, Lord. Teach them humility so they may serve You with reverent awe and worshipful fear. Lead our rulers to honor Your Son, the King, before the judgment comes. Bless us as we take refuge in You and put our future in Your hands.

PSALM 3

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

1 O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;

2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God.

Selah

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield

Reviews for Changing Me, Change the World

[altarasabine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A must have for every Christian. Lynnda has been incredibly gifted with the knowledge of guiding others to a more fulfilling prayer life. She shows you also can use God's inspired words to create your own prayers. Your eyes will be opened to see how the psalms are just as prevalent to today's daily life. Whether you are in complete agreement or not with the words of her prayers they are still excellent examples for your own. Perhaps for the first time, read the psalms with real purpose and let them take meaning in your life and communication with God.

[tammyphillips · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Changing Me, Change the World is a good example of one way that the Psalms can be reworded into personal prayers. Lynnda Ell has provided inspiration for voicing prayers that focus on the same heartfelt outcryings of the authors of these Psalms, exemplifying the Living Word. I do believe the formatting in the book would be more well received if each Psalm was printed in entirety before Lynnda's prayer begins. Then, following both prayers, insert a lined page for personal reflection. The current organization of the book in which a partial Psalm is printed with a partial of Lynnda's prayer printed on the facing page, appears amateurish to me. The continuity of the work is compromised as blank lined pages are inserted whenever a Psalm is longer or shorter than it's counterpart prayer. Overall, great inspiration, however, it could be greatly improved with formatting changes.

[bella209_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book was just so boring to me. I do not reccomend unless you like boring books.

[iandssmom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a wonderful book and has been a blessing in my life. I've completed reading the book but I can't say I'll ever be done with it. I know I will go back to this book often for a spiritual lift. I can't say how much this book has effected me and helped me.

[dbettenson_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Though “Changinge Me, Change the World” is not a large book, (only147 pages) it is well written and read slowly, provides both solace and insight. Lynnda Ell has provided psalms from the Bible, and on the opposing page has written her interpretation of those psalms. Throughout the book, Ell has left places for one to write in their own understanding of the psalm.I enjoyed reading and contemplating “Changing Me, Change the World”. By reading one every day or two, I was able to absorb and get insight from Lynnda Ell’s lovely book.I received this book free for review. I am a member of Goodreads, Librarything, Book Divas and the Penguin Book Club.

[thesilverofhisfining · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author sent me her book and asked that I review it. I read one entry per day, prayers based on the first 41 Psalms.I'm not sure how to review a book in this format, so I will just say what comes to mind. I have read one other book of prayers based on Scripture, which I did not care for, though it was a writer I liked.The concept of praying according to Scripture is a fabulous one. I've struggled with how to accomplish this on my own. Lynnda, you have done a fabulous job of doing so in your book, Changing Me, Change the World! I started out hoping to love the book. I half expected that there would be some entries which I loved and some which weren't so great, or that I did not understand, or that strayed from the Scripture. Not so.The book is consistent throughout, the prayers sound genuinely personal to Lynnda, as they are to the Biblical author(s), yet they do not stray from the original thoughts. Perhaps the reason I don't know what to say is that I have no criticism of the book. It is well done. When is Book II coming out, Lynnda?