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Praying the Psalms in an Anti-Christian World – A Conversation with Rory Noland
By Luke Jackson
In today’s world, worship leaders and church leaders face unique challenges. The Psalms, an ancient yet timeless collection of prayers, offer profound guidance for navigating the complexities of modern ministry. In a recent episode of the Churchfront Worship and Tech Podcast, I had the honor of interviewing Rory Noland about his latest book, Fighting on Our Knees: Praying the Psalms in an Anti-Christian World. This book is a powerful call to embrace the Psalms as a resource for prayer and spiritual formation, particularly as we address the cultural, familial, and church challenges of our time.
Rory’s Journey with the Psalms
Rory, who has spent decades in worship ministry and leadership development, shared how a professor’s advice led him to “master” the Psalms. While Rory had immersed himself in the Psalms as a worship leader, writing songs and using them in services, he realized there were parts of the Psalms he didn’t fully understand or engage with. This realization launched an eight-year journey to study and write a verse-by-verse commentary and devotional on all 150 Psalms.
This deep dive transformed Rory’s prayer life. The Psalms taught him to pray beyond personal concerns, focusing on communal needs and injustices in the world. As he put it, “The Psalms are as relevant today as they were 3,000 years ago.”
The Power of the Psalms for Worship Leaders
As worship leaders, the Psalms are a resource we cannot ignore. They provide language for both personal and corporate prayer, enriching our gatherings with depth and intentionality. Rory emphasized how context can transform our understanding of commonly quoted Psalms. For example, Psalm 51’s plea, “Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise,” is not a mere call to worship but a cry of repentance from a broken heart.
Understanding these layers can help us teach and disciple our congregations, encouraging them to engage deeply with worship and prayer, even in seasons of struggle or lament.
Praying for Families, the Church, and Culture
In Fighting on Our Knees, Rory identifies three areas under spiritual attack—families, the church, and the culture at large—and challenges readers to respond with prayer.
- Families: Psalm 78 highlights the responsibility of passing on faith to the next generation. Worship leaders are encouraged not only to lead their churches but also their families in worship.
- The Church: Rory calls for a shift from criticism to intercession. As he reminded us, “The church is us,” and the Psalms teach us to lament and pray for restoration and unity within the body of Christ.
- Culture: Addressing Psalm 58, Rory pointed out the psalmists’ bold prayers against injustice and evil in the world. These prayers challenge us to engage with the brokenness around us, bringing it to God rather than letting anger fester.
Engaging with Difficult Psalms
One of the most challenging yet vital aspects of the Psalms is the imprecatory prayers—those that call for God’s judgment on enemies. Rory tackled this head-on in his book, explaining that these prayers teach us to channel our righteous anger toward God rather than acting on it ourselves.
While these prayers may seem harsh, they offer a model for trusting God’s justice while seeking His mercy for others. As Martin Luther put it, “Pray that God would either judge them or convert them.”
A Call to Worship Leaders
Prayer is the foundation of ministry, and the Psalms offer a guide for aligning our hearts with God’s purposes. Rory’s book is a timely reminder that before we act—whether in our ministries, families, or communities—we must first fight on our knees.
I’m personally inspired to incorporate more Psalms into my worship planning and to deepen my prayer life using the practices outlined in Rory’s book. For worship leaders, Fighting on Our Knees is an invaluable resource for fostering spiritual growth and resilience in today’s challenging landscape.
If you haven’t already, grab a copy of Fighting on Our Knees: Praying the Psalms in an Anti-Christian World, available wherever books are sold. Let it transform the way you approach prayer and worship, both personally and corporately.
You can also connect with Rory and explore his other works at heartoftheartist.org.
Take Action:
- Read Fighting on Our Knees and implement its practices in your prayer life.
- Begin incorporating Psalms into your worship services as calls to worship, prayers of lament, or expressions of praise.
- Share your experiences with praying the Psalms in the comments or on social media.
Let’s continue the conversation about how the Psalms can shape our worship and prayer lives.
