Psalm 138 (NIV)

Of David.

¹I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;

  before the “gods” I will sing your praise.

²I will bow down toward your holy temple

  and will praise your name

  for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,

for you have so exalted your solemn decree

  that it surpasses your fame.

³When I called, you answered me;

  you greatly emboldened me.

⁴May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord,

  when they hear what you have decreed.

⁵May they sing of the ways of the Lord,

  for the glory of the Lord is great.

⁶Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;

  though lofty, he sees them from afar.

⁷Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

  you preserve my life.

You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;

  with your right hand you save me.

⁸The Lord will vindicate me;

  your love, Lord, endures forever—

  do not abandon the works of your hands.

1. Honestly pray to God with your whole being.

with all my heart...before the “gods” I will sing your praise…I will bow down

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37–40 (NIV)

It is easy to be honest before God with our hallelujahs; it is nearly impossible to be honest before God in the dark emotions of our hate. So, we commonly suppress our negative emotions (unless, neurotically, we advertise them). Or, when we do express them, we do it far from the presence, or what we think is the presence, of God, ashamed or embarrassed to be seen in these curse-stained bib overalls. But when we pray the psalm, these classic prayers of God’s people, we find that will not do. We must pray who we actually are, not who we think we should be. Eugene Peterson, Answering God 

I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. Psalm 88:2-3 (NIV)

2. Personally praise God for who God is and what God has done.

for your unfailing love and your faithfulness…When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me…you preserve my life...do not abandon the works of your hands.

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long…Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Psalm 32:2-5 (NIV)

(And pray for others to recognize God’s greatness and kindness.)

May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord…Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly…