Create in Me a Clean Heart: Ten Minutes a Day in the Penitential Psalms

by Sarah Christmyer

Every year, Lent holds out the opportunity for a spiritual “cleanse” – a chance to open your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to shine a light into dark corners, expose sin and pain, and offer them up for forgiveness and healing. One time-honored custom that harnesses the power of God’s word to “read” hearts in this way is praying the seven “Penitential Psalms.” Sarah Christmyer, Catholic author and co-developer of the popular Great Adventure Catholic Bible Study Program, invites you to set aside ten minutes a day to ponder one of these Psalms each week of Lent. Use this devotional prayer journal and allow the word of God to soak into your heart and move you toward a fresh, new start at Easter. Each chapter - The text of one of the Penitential Psalms - A moving personal reflection from Sarah Christmyer - A step-by-step guide to meditating on the psalm - Space to write what you see and hear and to respond to God A guide to meditating on Scripture using lectio divina is also included. "Ultimately, the word of God is not a book but a person who loves us and longs to connect with us on an intimate spiritual level. Take the opportunity Lent provides to offer up just 1% of your waking hours to get to know Take 10-15 minutes a day … get away from it all … open your heart … and listen for his voice." --from the Introduction

122 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2016

Reviews

[Mary Ellin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a Lenten devotional. Good introduction to the penitential psalms.

[Robert Means · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant read

Ok book for Lenten preparation, liked the use of the psalms. I would recommend this for someone who enjoys meditating on the psalms.

[Joseph Wetterling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed and benefited from this guided study of six penitential psalms. The author teaches a simple and memorable method for lectio divina with these psalms and reinforces it over 7 weeks. It's designed to be used during Lent, but I see no reason you couldn't follow this study over any 7 week period, or even condense it shorter.