Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

of heart. Everywhere you will find humility to be the basis of prayer. The Lord, you see, is near to the contrite of heart. David prays constantly.

John Chrysostom on Psalm 9 “It is especially after being freed from troubles that we

Though freed from troubles and made secure, he does not stop praying again, Have mercy (v. 13), and begs him for future benefits. You see, we always stand in need

need grace to cope with good times more easily.”

of God’s providence, but especially at a time of freedom from troubles. Without troubles, we face a more difficult battle—against indifference and numbness. It is then that the devil comes panting more aggressively. And so it is especially after being freed from troubles that we need grace to cope with good times more easily. Hence the need to be cautious is most urgent at the time when we are free of troubles. For this reason you will often find success productive of greater troubles than failure. That is why the psalmist says elsewhere, “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees” (Ps 119:71).