Ryan Whitaker Smith - Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms

They will always inspire, and they will never be used up. Sheltering Mercy is yet another faithful child of the Psalms, a beautiful collection of poems arriving at a dark moment, poems unafraid of sorrow and brokenness, delivering hope and joy. N. D. Wilson, author of Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl and Death by Living These exquisite Psalms-inspired prayers give language to my emotions at a time in history when I often find myself at a loss for words. Thank you, Ryan and Dan, for such an incredibly poetic resource! JJ Heller, singer-songwriter Reading the Psalms is a very good thing to do.

Singing the Psalms is even better. But best of all is when we pray the Psalms. For millennia believers have used the Psalms as a school of prayer, as a model for prayer, and as a springboard to prayer. This beautifully crafted rendering of the Psalms gives voice to the cries of our hearts, depth to our intercessions, and breadth to our supplications. Find here refreshment and renewal. George Grant, Parish Presbyterian Church, Franklin, Tennessee; author of The Blood of the Moon and The Micah Mandate A targum is the ancient practice of rewriting sacred text in todays vocabulary.

Smith and Wilt creatively apply this historic art form to the Psalms for the purpose of renewing these ancestral cries in every human heart. AJ Sherrill, author of Being with God and The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation Praying the Psalms is de facto praying in technicolor. Smith and Wilts Psalm-based book of prayers, Sheltering Mercy , enables us to pray them in 3D. The anchoring of these prayers in the text of the Psalms, the authors rich offering of cross-references to other books in the Hebrew Scriptures, and culminating themes in the New Testament, plus references to treasured Christian spiritual classics content, make this volume an invaluable devotional asset. Darrell A. Harris, The Robert E.

Webber Institute for Worship Studies (emeritus) Sheltering Mercy reads like inspired literature from a friend who is speaking directly to me and my situation. It is filled with a hopefulness that creates a safe space for reflection, one that is so necessary for leaders today. Eldon Fry, spiritual director, pastoral counselor, educator, and author of Growing Up Idaho and Spiritual Formation: Attention Along the Way For centuries Christians have repeated the Psalms, not only as prayer but as a school for prayer. In them we learn the patterns of praise, thanksgiving, and lament. In these eloquent meditations and improvisations on the Psalms, Smith and Wilt further that education. Steven R. Steven R.

Guthrie, Belmont University This beautiful collection of psalms expressed as poetic prayer reminds us of the relevance of reverence in our daily lives and the hope breathed through even the darkest of sufferings. Alight on a different poem each day, and find rest in its cadence, restoration in its celebration, and guidance from new songs grown from deep-rooted wisdom. Carolyn Weber, author of Surprised by Oxford and Holy Is the Day Over the course of my career, Ive spent countless hours laboring over vocal harmonies. Theres something beautiful about hearing different, complementary (or consonant) notes at the same time. The prayers in Sheltering Mercy produce a similar result. Michael W. Michael W.

Smith, singer-songwriter