The Book of Psalms is not only the longest book of the Bible, but also one of the most diverse. While the word “psalm” technically means “song,” each of the 150 Psalms in the Bible is a prayer.
David, the author of 73 of the Psalms, wrote Psalms when he was facing difficult times. He wrote Psalms when he failed God, and he wrote Psalms when he was simply sitting in the field as a young shepherd boy, reflecting on the goodness of God.
There are at least seven other authors listed in the Book of Psalms. According to Jewish tradition, some of these authors include Adam, Abraham, Moses, Solomon, and others.
While we don’t know exactly who wrote each Psalm, we do know that the authors all had unique experiences with God that prompted their writings.
Some of their Psalms were pleas for mercy, while others involved them asking God to deliver them from enemies. Some Psalms are prayers of praise in which the author doesn’t ask God to do anything. Instead, the authors chose to simply meditate on the goodness of God that they had already seen.
Today, we’re going to take a look at three Psalms that you can pray over your life today and every day. These Psalms include prayers of repentance, pleas for help, and praise to God.
Praying the Scriptures is one of the most effective ways of entering into a deeper, more intimate relationship with God.
A Prayer of Repentance
Pray These Verses
Psalm 51:1-4 (NIV)
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
Pray This Prayer
Heavenly Father, before I take another step today, I want to ask for Your forgiveness. I know that I struggle with the temptations that I face each day. Those transgressions and failures are constantly before me, but I know that they’re not before You.
You choose to forget all my mistakes in Your infinite grace. I know that You have the right to condemn me, but You choose not to. Thank You for that. Forgive me according to Your mercy. In Christ’s name, Amen.
A Prayer of Praise
Pray These Verses
Psalm 103:1-6 (NIV)
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
Pray This Prayer
Heavenly Father, in this moment of prayerful reflection, I don’t want to ask You for anything. Instead, I praise You from the innermost part of my being.
My soul exalts You, God. Instead of focusing on the things I need or want, I stand in awe as I remember all Your benefits. Father, thank You for forgiving me for all the things I’ve done wrong.
Thank You for the gift of redemption through Your Son and for blotting out my sins. Thank You for redeeming my life from the pit of sin and giving me Your love and compassion.
Thank You for every good thing in my life as I know every blessing I have comes from You. Thank You for Your heart for the oppressed. In Christ’s name, Amen.
A Prayer for Deliverance
Psalm 90:1-6 (NIV)
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.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
Pray This Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for providing me with shelter in the storms of life, and for a place to rest when life leaves me feeling tired.
God, Your Word teaches me that I’m engaged in spiritual warfare every day. I have an enemy who wants to destroy me, and I know that he will stop at nothing to derail the plans that You have for me. Father, be my shield and my rampart.
Give me the courage and the strength that I need to not be afraid of the terror of the night or of the arrows that fly by day. Cover me, protect me, and keep me in the face of everything that Satan tries to launch against me. In Christ’s name, Amen.
These three Psalms were chosen for a reason. Every day, regardless of where you’re at on your Christian journey, you face temptation and spiritual attacks. Each day is also ripe with opportunities to slow down and thank God for the good things in your life.
While you can certainly use these Psalms as prayer points throughout your day, it’s important to find other opportunities to pray Scripture. Since all the Psalms are prayers, you can reflect on any of them during your prayer time with God.
It’s a good idea to read a Psalm, reflect on it, and then pray it over your life. You will quickly find that every Psalm provides the power that you need for the moment that you’re in.
Thank God
Heavenly Father, thank You for the words that You inspired the Psalmists to write. Thank You for preserving them throughout the millennia. Father, make Your Word come alive in my spirit.
Help me to better understand the words of the Psalms and the rest of Scripture so I can know You better and pray more effectively. In Christ’s name, Amen.