Finding Your Voice in the Psalms: An Invitation to Honest Prayer

by Elizabeth J. Canham

Have you ever railed in anger about some situation in your life and wondered if something awful might happen because you dared express your rage to God?
Or after some trauma, have you experienced the horrible sense of God's absence? If you've had these or other feelings and wondered what to do with them, the Psalms provide a good way for you to pray about any situation.
Canham, an Episcopal priest who specializes in teaching and spiritual guidance, explores 7 themes found in the









Discover the beauty and power of the Psalms. Learn how to write your own psalm about your present experience, desire, need, hope, or joy.
Canham says, "In this book I want to share my delight in the Psalms and offer models for praying with them. I write for all the heart-hungry people of God who must live and pray in the midst of very busy lives."
An excellent resource for anyone wanting to deepen their relationship with God! Consider using this book for individual or small-group study or sharing it with your prayer partner.

95 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 2013

Reviews

[writer...]

Finding Your Voice in the Psalms:
An Invitation to Honest Prayer
published April 1.13 by Upper Room Books
Rev Dr Elizabeth Canham author

I loved this book by Dr Canham. Personable and practical. It makes the Psalms available and applicable ...

The Psalms are ancient Hebrew prayers addressing our
experiences in life even today.
Heartfelt responses of joy, sorrow, lament, praise,
they encourage free expression by example set.
Music, dance, movement, all are part of worshipping God.
In reading another's open heart toward God,
we discover God's open heart is turned toward us.

Dr. Canham models praying with the Psalms
including the silent pause that begins the reading
and ends each line,
making room for hearing the Voice of Holy Spirit
and dwelling in God's nurturing Presence.
Moving from our own voice - allowing for God's transformative work.

Lectio Divina is beautifully outlined and explained
for readers instruction and use.
A process for creating our own Psalm in response to our life's
hope, joy, need, gratitude, desire, loss, injustice, grief...
either individually or in a group, is also described.

Written with insights gained whilst living
in a Benedictine monastery,
accessible writing style for instruction and understanding,
it is an invitation to intentional living in awareness, present to God.
Moving counter-culturally from constant restless 'doing' to rest -
to 'being' - still - living at rest.
Ps 116.7 'Return, O my soul, to your rest'
the place of restoration - the still waters and pastures where
'He restores my soul' Psalm 23.3

'Finding Your Voice in the Psalms: An Invitation to Honest Prayer'
is an invitation worth accepting.
Highly recommended!





*Thank you to Upper Room Books for the opportunity to read and review
'Finding Your Voice in the Psalms' without obligation.

[Nancy]

This is a small but Mighty book. I really found great depth in the exercises Ms Canham offered. Her writing is very accessible and her ideas refreshing. I found new ways of approaching the Psalms and new avenues to communion with the Divine. Her idea of writing one's own psalms really gave me a new eye and ear on this powerful book of the Bible. I would highly recommend this to anyone seeking more breadth in their personal worship. She also offers practices for small groups. I look forward to trying these with small groups in my Quaker meeting. I can see I will need multiple copies for family and friends. I'm grateful that NetGalley gave me a digital copy to introduce me to this wonderful author.

[Karen]

"God’s grace is bountiful; the more we take time to reflect on our lives, the more we see each day’s gifts in the midst of our busyness."

"Those who find rest in God discover a restlessness that draws them ever deeper into the divine reality."

"When the events of our lives move us into excitement, disappointment, anxiety, expectancy, or fear, it is time to return to our rest in God, knowing that all things are held in the arms of the Shepherd of our souls."