Prayer is mysterious and difficult. Souls are nourished by prayer. Communities are strengthened and history is shaped by prayer. Yet those who pray find barriers to authenticity, perceptions of failure and unanswered questions on every side. For countless generations the Psalms have been the prayer book of the people of God. In this sermon series we will give attention to a section of the psalms for help with our questions and for encouragement to persevere. The large majority of psalms are recorded prayers, enlivened by music, intended for both individuals and congregations. They are written throughout Israel's history, from the exodus to the years following exile in Babylon - though roughly half of them belong to David. The psalms are also gathered into five "books" or collections and our focus in these messages will be on book four (Psalms 90-106), which is centered on a resounding word of faith, "The Lord Reigns." Psalms 90-106 are carefully set in order to help worshippers move from questions to confidence, from struggle to strength as they pray. We will take one week each on 90, 91 and 92 noting how each makes its own statement but also their faith-building connection to one another. We will take two weeks to consider themes from the wonderfully integrated section, 93-100. Finally Psalm 103 will be our song on the Sunday before Christmas.