Hosted by Ellen Krause (Mentor Mama)
How praying the Psalms draws us closer to the heart of God with Ryan Whitaker Smith:
Do you ever sit down to pray but feel like you don’t have the words? The Book of Psalms gives us those words — sacred prayers written thousands of years ago that still reach the depths of the human heart today.
In this episode of the Coffee and Bible Time Podcast, Mentor Mama talks with Ryan Whitaker Smith, co-author of Sheltering Mercy, a stunning devotional that reimagines what it means to pray the Psalms. Together, they explore how these ancient prayers can renew your faith, refresh your prayer life, and draw you closer to the God who invites you into intimacy with His Word.
Chapters/ Timestamps:
0:06 Introduction
2:35 Welcome and Guest Intro
4:16 How Sheltering Mercy Began
6:23 Praying the Psalms Explained
9:27 Using Written Prayers for Devotion
11:41 Patterns in the Psalms
13:22 Honesty and Emotion in Prayer
14:18 Ryan’s Favorite Psalm
15:50 Christ in the Psalms
16:58 How to Use Cross References
17:41 Unapologetically Christ Centered
19:45 The Hope for Readers
20:41 Stories of Impact
21:42 Volume Two and New Projects
22:55 Ryan’s Study Tools
24:54 Closing Blessing and Reflection
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Why Praying the Psalms Still Matters
Ryan shares that the Psalms are not only poetry — they are prayer in its purest form. They give voice to every emotion of the soul: joy, despair, gratitude, longing, repentance, and hope.
“The Psalms remind us that prayer isn’t performance — it’s participation in God’s heart.”
— Ryan Whitaker Smith
When we are praying the Psalms, we are joining in the same words Jesus Himself prayed. These prayers form a rhythm for the soul, guiding us to bring everything — our pain, our praise, and our deepest questions — before the Lord.
What Inspired Sheltering Mercy
Ryan explains that Sheltering Mercy began as a simple act of friendship and worship. He wrote one prayer during a personal devotional time and shared it with co-author Dan Wilt. That one prayer led to dozens, and before long, the two realized they had something meaningful to share with the Church.
This devotional collection isn’t a translation or paraphrase of the Psalms. It’s a response — a series of poetic prayers that walk alongside Scripture. Ryan says,
“It’s not meant to replace the Psalms, but to help readers rediscover them.”
The heart behind Sheltering Mercy is simple: to help believers pray Scripture again, allowing the words of the Psalms to become personal, intimate, and alive.
The Power of Written Prayer
For many believers, prayer can feel intimidating — as though we need to sound spiritual or eloquent. Ryan gently reminds us that God isn’t looking for perfect words; He’s looking for honest hearts.
Written prayers, he explains, are tools that have blessed the Church for centuries. Whether it’s the Book of Common Prayer or John Baillie’s Diary of Private Prayer, these words serve as companions when our own voices falter.
Sometimes, we need help finding the right words. Praying the Psalms — gives us that help.
Patterns in the Psalms
Ryan beautifully describes how the Psalms move between praise and lament, consolation and desolation — a rhythm that mirrors the ups and downs of our own lives.
“There’s a brutal honesty in the Psalms that keeps us coming back to them,” Ryan says.
Even when we feel distant from God, praying the Psalms remind us that He’s close. They teach us that faith isn’t the absence of pain; it’s the decision to bring that pain into His presence.
Honesty in Prayer
One of Ryan’s most powerful insights is this:
“The Psalms give us permission to be completely honest with God.”
They show us that we don’t have to filter our feelings or fix ourselves before coming to Him. The Psalmists bring their doubts, fears, and frustrations — and God meets them there.
When you pray the Psalms, you’re practicing that same honesty. You’re learning that vulnerability before God is the truest form of worship.
Seeing Jesus in the Psalms
Ryan and Dan wrote Sheltering Mercy from a New Testament perspective — and in doing so, they couldn’t help but see Jesus in every chapter.
From the suffering of Psalm 22 to the comfort of Psalm 23 and the kingship of Psalm 2, each Psalm points us toward the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises in Christ.
“You can’t help but see Jesus hiding in the Psalms.”
When we pray the Psalms, we are echoing the same prayers He prayed — prayers that lead us deeper into the Father’s love.
How to Use Sheltering Mercy
Ryan suggests using the book as a companion to your daily Bible reading. You can:
Mentor Mama adds that you can also keep a side journal to look up the cross-referenced verses, deepening your understanding of how the Psalms connect to the rest of Scripture.
Hope for the Reader
Ryan’s prayer for every reader of Sheltering Mercy is simple:
“That these prayers would lead you into the presence of God — and ultimately back to Scripture itself.”
That’s the heartbeat of this episode: not just to talk about the Psalms, but to invite you to pray them, live them, and delight in God’s Word through them.
Favorite Quotes
“The Psalms are where theology becomes poetry.”
— Ryan Whitaker Smith
“When I pray the Psalms, I’m reminded that God wants all of me — not just my Sunday self.”
— Mentor Mama
“Written prayers lend us language when our hearts are too full for words.”
— Ryan Whitaker Smith
Ryan’s Bible Study Tools
Ryan laughs that he’s not a great journaler — a reminder that even creative people have their spiritual struggles!
Closing Reflection
As Mentor Mama closes, she reminds us that God delights when His children pray His Word back to Him.
If your prayer life feels quiet or uncertain, start with the Psalms. Whisper them. Write them. Pray them back to the One who hears every word.
“The Psalms aren’t just ancient poetry — they are God’s invitation to honest, intimate prayer.”
May your soul find rest in His sheltering mercy today.
Resources Mentioned
Coffee and Bible Time Resources
Explore our Prayer Journals, Prayer Binder Courses, and Bible Studies designed to help you grow in intimacy with God.
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