Our instincts need some sharpening.

For example.

My wife often gets frustrated with me when she needs me to listen, but instead, I try to fix the situation. I know. Sounds so cliché. But it’s true. If my wife is upset I do not naturally think the best thing I can do right now is just listen. My instinct is to uncover the reason for the hurt, get to the bottom of it, and find a solution. It’s actually amazing to me how often I inappropriately respond to her. It’s almost like I have gift. 

Thankfully, I think the tides are turning. Now, what I am about to say is somewhat embarrassing. It really is. But it’s the best illustration I have for the point I’m trying to make. Please don’t use it against me. Please. Anyway. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been visualizing being in a situation where my wife needs to me to listen as opposed to solving a problem. In my head I imagine sitting there listening and when she’s finished explaining I say, “I am so sorry.” No advice. No words of insight. Just plain old listening, empathy, and care.

My goal in this exercise is to sharpen my instincts so that when I find myself in a similar situation to the above, I act rightly.

Praying and meditating on the Psalms sharpen our instinct to pray rightly. The Psalms, real prayers written by real people who are in real relationship with God, shape us at the unconscious level so that when we encounter specific situations, we pray appropriate prayers.

For example, what do you do when you face an uncertain, important, difficult situation that is out of your control? Our reactions vary. Some of us panic; others of us disassociate. The faithful Christian response, however, is to pray. We are to ask God for help and a renewed sense of his presence. It’s even right to ask God to bring about a particular outcome.  For many of us, prayer is not our instinct. It’s the furthest thing from our mind. Or maybe, if we do pray, we’re not as bold as we ought to be. So, in order to become people who respond rightly by coming before God, we can pray Psalm 20 – a prayer for help and renewal of truth in God – regularly and frequently so that our instincts are sharpened for that day of uncertainty.

Do you want to instinctively thank God when you are given a good gift?

Do you want to instinctively lament your pain to God when you’re suffering?

Do you want to instinctively praise God for his character?

Then, pray the psalms because doing so sharpens our instincts.