In this devotional, we’ll read Powerful Psalms to Pray when you need God’s help. Because the truth is… life is hard. And we all need a little help to get through the day. So, if you don’t know what to pray, let the Psalms encourage your heart and inspire your prayer life today.
Is Psalms a book of prayer?
The Old Testament book of Psalms is different from other books of the Bible. Instead of giving us a glimpse of God’s grace throughout history, these songs or poems show us an intimate relationship between God and the psalmist.
Just like Christian music today, they are an intimate look inside the heart of mankind searching for answers only God can provide. And just like we sing along with our favorite song, we can pray the psalms to God.
How to pray the Psalms?
The Bible is called God’s Word for a reason. It is a living, breathing thing that shows us how to live out our faith every day. The meaning stays the same, but God uses these Bible Verses to meet us exactly where we are right now.
The Word of God and prayer are our tools in the daily fight we face to stand firm in the faith. The Bible gives us instruction. And prayer is our personal and direct line to our Heavenly Father.
King David made this part of Christian life easy for us when he wrote most of the book of Psalms.
He was a man after God’s own heart. And in his psalms, we see a pattern of crying out to God for help, then praising the Lord for all He has done. This is the same pattern of prayer Jesus Christ taught us in the Lord’s Prayer.
That’s why some of our favorite Psalms make the perfect prayers to offer up to the Lord. You can use the entire psalm or just a part of it as a starting point for your personal prayer.
And because scripture has the power of the Holy Spirit within it, when you pray God’s Word back to Him your prayer life will change forever!
What is a good Psalm to pray?
Are you wondering… What is a good Psalm to pray? Whatever it is that you’re facing today, God has a word for you in the Psalms.
This special book of songs, poetry, and prayers is full of hope for any circumstance.
From the psalmist’s earnest cry for help to the pouring out of the human soul and the unending praise of God’s glory, we find every emotion we feel is accounted for in the Psalms.
But only you can answer the question of which Psalm fits the situation you find yourself in right now.
However, I promise you this, if you’ll keep reading, God will speak to your heart through one or more of these powerful psalms.
So, let’s get started…
Psalms to Pray in the Morning
Praying the psalms first thing in the morning is a great way to start the day!
Entering the presence of God and turning to His glorious light gives us a sense of renewed hope for what the day will bring. These scriptures will fill you with anticipation as you apply them to your morning routine.
Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
Psalm 143:8 NIV
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
From the rising of the sun to its going down The Lord’s name is to be praised.
Psalm 113:3 NKJV
Psalms to Pray at Night
After a long day, we just want to go to bed and try to forget the busyness of life. But before our heads hit the pillow, we should take a moment to connect with God.
When you’re tired, these Psalms to pray at night will give you an easy place to start your bedtime prayers.
And if you have kids, they are a great way to teach children how to pray. Use them over and over again, and before long they’ll become second nature.
I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
Psalm 77:11 NKJV
On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
Psalm 63:6 NIV
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promise.
Psalm 119:148 ESV
May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the Lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
Psalm 141:2 NIV
Psalm 91 Prayer
Psalm 91 is a prayer of protection and trust in God. It emphasizes the closeness we have with Him when we trust in His love.
Because at its core, this Psalm of prayer is all about love. The unique and special love we share with God Himself. And it encourages us to stay close to God in both the good and bad times.
Verses 14 through 16 give us an amazing promise. Because we have chosen to walk closely with Him, He will in return hold us close and keep us under His protection.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
Psalm 91:9-10 NKJV
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:11 NKJV
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
Psalm 91:14-16 NKJV
Read More: Encouraging Bible Verses about Prayer
The Lord is my Shepherd Prayer
We all know the 23rd Psalm. So much so, we may gloss over it.
But this Psalm 23 prayer is worth a second look.
Because in this very popular psalm we find our Savior Jesus. He is our Good Shepherd leading us through the darkest times and renewing our spirit with His gentle touch.
So, let’s read it with fresh eyes and see what God has to say to us in this great scripture.
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
Psalms to Pray for Healing
We all have times of physical illness or weakness. It’s just part of our human condition. And we have people we love who suffer from physical ailments too.
But we serve a God who cares deeply about every aspect of our lives, including what is happening inside of our bodies.
In these Psalms to pray for healing, we find the word to lift up to our Heavenly Father when we are sick or in pain.
Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.
Psalm 28:2 NIV
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
Psalm 6:2 NIV
Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.
Psalm 31:5 NIV
Psalms to Pray Over Family
Praying for our family is the best thing we can ever do for them.
Naturally, our human nature wants to jump in and fix whatever is broken in their lives. But putting them in God’s hand allowing Him to work all things to their good is the way we should go.
When you pray these Psalms over your family, you will see His hand and feel His love covering your loved one with grace upon grace.
May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121:7-8 NIV
For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Psalm 139:6 NIV
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Psalms to Pray for Others
Praying for our families is great. But there are so many other people in our lives that we want to lift up in prayer.
Whether it’s friends, co-workers, neighbors, or someone you met in line at the grocery store, prayer is an important part of our everyday relationships with these wonderful people.
And just like our family members, prayer is the very best thing we can do for them.
So, let’s look at these Psalms to pray for others and learn how we can help them the most.
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
Psalm 133:1 NIV
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:7 ESV
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
Psalm 139:17 NKJV
Read More about the Power of Prayer in your life!
Best Psalms to Pray for Strength
As followers of Christ, we strive to live out our faith boldly. But sometimes our strength fails us.
But that’s okay because God is always there offering us His strength.
If you’re feeling weak, read these Psalms to pray for strength and remember the Lord is your stronghold and fortress. Call out to Him and He will renew your strength.
The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.
Psalm 59:17 ESV
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud; And He set my feet on a rock, making my footsteps firm.
Psalm 40:2 NASB
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26 NKJV
You who have shown me many troubles and distresses Will revive me again, And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1 NIV
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:4 NKJV
I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.
Psalm 3:4 NIV
Popular Psalms to Pray for Protection
Similar to the previous scriptures, these popular Psalms to pray for protection remind us God will protect us and keep us safe.
He will never leave us alone to fight the battle raging in our lives. And He will give us hope for a better day to come.
Because no matter what you’re facing today, the victory is God’s and He will gladly share it with you if you will put your trust in Him.
May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.
Psalm 25:21 NIV
May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;
appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.
Psalm 61:7 NIV
Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
Psalm 4:1 NIV
Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.
Psalm 17:7 NIV
Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,
Psalm 17:8 ESV
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
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Praying the Psalms for Spiritual Warfare
Christians should always be aware of the spiritual warfare going on around us. When we speak openly about our faith in Jesus there will be push back from the unbelieving world. And even though we can only see it with “spiritual eyes” we come up against the forces of darkness every time we stand up for what we believe.
Psalm 46 is a reminder that God is with us even in the midst of the spiritual battle we face each day. He is our refuge and strength in every struggle. Run to His mighty fortress and be safe today!
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1 NKJV
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Psalm 46:2-3 NIV
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
Psalm 46:4 NIV
God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
Psalm 46:5 NIV
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46:7 NIV
Read more Bible Verses about Spiritual Warfare in this devotional.
The Most Powerful Prayer in the Book of Psalms
Jesus is our Rock. He is the firm foundation we can always stand on no matter what may be happening in our lives.
And when we’re overwhelmed by life’s demands, or the many disappoints we face each day, the best thing we can do is pray and allow God to lead us to the Rock that is higher!
Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:1-2 NKJV
Psalms to Pray about God’s Right Hand
Here at Master’s Hand Collection, the mission is always to show you God’s hand working in your life.
And these Psalms about God’s right hand offer us an intimate look at how He is always there for us, lifting us up when we need Him the most.
I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Psalm 16:8 NKJV
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.
Psalm 17:7 ESV
Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!
As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
Psalm 48:10 ESV
When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
Psalm 104:28 NIV
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
Psalm 95:4 NIV
Praying Psalms of Praise
One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.
Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Psalm 103:1 NKJV
Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Psalm 136:1-3 ESV
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.
Psalm 7:17 ESV
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Psalm 100:1-2 NKJV
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 ESV
I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:3 NIV
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Psalm 100:4 NKJV
Psalms to Pray for Forgiveness
Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:3 NKJV
I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
Psalm 41:4 NIV
Why, Lord, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
Psalm 10:1 NIV
The wicked are too proud to seek God.
They seem to think that God is dead.
Psalm 10:4 NLT
Turning Psalms 1 Into a Prayer
And finally, we will end our devotional on Psalms to Pray at the beginning of the book of Psalms.
The whole Psalm is a reminder of how we should conduct ourselves as Christians in an ungodly world. Because sometimes life takes over and we forget to put God first.
So, let’s read Psalm 1 and be encouraged by its truth…
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
Psalm 1:2 NIV
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Psalm 1:3 NIV
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
Psalm 1:6 NIV
Any of these Powerful Psalms to Pray can be turned into beautiful prayers that will transform your prayer life.
They are a powerful way to take your deepest hurts or highest praise to the Lord.
So, the next time you find yourself wondering what to pray… turn to the words of the psalmist and find new inspiration for your daily prayers!
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