How to use Psalms for Prayer

Praying the Scriptures is one of the most powerful and effective ways to pray, because you are declaring and praying the very will of God, which is His Word. Specifically, the book of Psalms is a great source of prayers and declarations, as it contains a variety of topics for you to choose from, such as praise and thanksgiving, and is all about wisdom, encouragement, God’s peace, victory, justice, and more. The book of Psalms can be a great declaration, especially when you are suffering, troubled, tired, weary, or losing hope. So, how do you use Psalms for prayer? For instance, if you or someone you know is experiencing discouragement, you can use Psalm 34:17-18 for your prayer, “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

Then, you can pray in this manner:

Heavenly Father, thank You for always hearing me when I cry out for help. You rescue me from all my troubles. My heart is broken right now, but I know that You are near me. You will save me from my situation. I put my hope and trust in You alone, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Using Scriptures in the book of Psalms for your prayers is not only powerful and effective, but it also helps remind you of God’s promises and His Word, renewing the way you think and perceive life. Praying the Scriptures aligns your will, thoughts, and emotions to the Father through God’s Word. As you can see, you don’t have to pray the verses in the book of Psalms word for word. You can take the whole thought and message of a particular chapter, understand its context, and then make a prayer of your own from that. 

God wants our heart when we pray, more so than our words. He wants your authenticity, transparency, and honesty before Him. It is what the relationship is all about, and God wants to have that kind of relationship with you. So, as the Holy Spirit inspires you to use the Scriptures when praying, just make sure you understand and make your own prayer from them.  

Another example is Psalm 91. The whole chapter is about God’s promise of protection to those who trust in Him and run to Him for safety and refuge. It can make a great prayer, as it contains a powerful message of God’s promise of protection. Since the whole chapter is quite long, you can read the entire message and then let the Holy Spirit lead you in praying using the Book of Psalms. For instance, here is a prayer from Psalm 91:

Heavenly Father, thank You for being my refuge and my fortress. I trust You for my family’s protection against deadly viruses and illnesses. You cover us under Your wings and save us from the works of the enemy. No plagues or deadly pestilence will come near me and my family, for You are our dwelling place in Christ Jesus. Be glorified, God, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

What is a good psalm to pray?

A good Psalm to use in your prayer depends on what may best minister to you and your situation. A good Psalm prayer is one that is timely for you. For instance, as mentioned earlier, if you are tired and weary, there are Psalms about God’s promise of strength, rest, and peace; if you are discouraged, there are Psalms about encouragement in your walk of faith and trust in God. You can pray using the book of Psalm as the Holy Spirit leads you, if it makes you feel more connected to God, or sometimes, you can pray using your own words—simply letting out what’s in your heart. Whatever you may be praying, know that God hears your prayers. He knows your situation, He fully understands you, and He is always on your side.

Here are some Scriptures from the book of Psalms that can be good for your prayers:

• Encouragement:

Psalm 16:18

Psalm 27:1-3

• Wisdom

Psalm 90:12

Psalm 51:6

• Thanksgiving and Exaltation

Psalm 118:19

Psalm 136:1-2

• Strength

Psalm 46:1-4

Psalm 121:1-3

• Peace

Psalm 9:9-10

Psalm 91:1-2

Are psalms considered prayers?

The book of Psalms was written by God’s people. They are in the form of hymns, songs, and poetry, and they are all about magnifying God, exalting God, and trusting God. It is all about God and their faith in Him. When David’s heart was troubled, he shared his thoughts about it and magnified God (see Psalm 25). That’s prayer. The sons of Korah sang to God in hymns; that’s prayer too (see Psalm 42). Psalms are definitely considered prayers, as anything we communicate before God is a prayer. 

The book of Psalms is a great foundation for praying before God because most of its contents are relatable in our daily situations. The people of faith who wrote it inspire us to walk, talk, and think about God in a similar way, especially when we encounter various trials and tribulations here on earth.

As you pray to God and use the Book of Psalms to guide you, renew you, encourage you, and inspire you, may He bless you and empower you every day in your faith walk with Him. You are powerful in Christ Jesus, and your prayers impact this world.