Category Archives: Prayers from Psalms
A Prayer for Vindication When Enemies Surround
He prays earnestly. He cries for justice. He insists that he is innocent: “Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not … Continue reading
Prayer As the Hurricane Approaches
The prayer of Psalm 57 concludes with praise and a statement of determination to keep singing in the midst of threatening turmoil. These words caught my attention this morning after I had been reading about the steady progress of Hurricane … Continue reading
Praying with Desperate Repentance
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!” (Psalm 130:1-2) That prayer of desperation begins a song sung by pilgrims … Continue reading
Prayer to the God who Reverses and Redefines
Psalm 129 laments persecution and calls down judgment on those who hate the place where God’s people worship. A song sung on the way to worship by Israelite worshipers, the psalm’s words speak of painful assault experienced by the worshiper. … Continue reading
A Prayer for Those Who Walk in God’s Ways
Actions have consequences. When we read Psalm 128, it seems that productivity and a healthy family life flow from fearing or have reverence for the Lord. The psalmist invokes a blessing on those that fear the Lord and walk in … Continue reading
Thanking God for Shelter, Security, and Legacy
Our prayers include (even if only subconsciously) petitions for shelter, for security, and for a legacy that will endure after our death. We want to be remembered. As Israelite pilgrims traveled to Jerusalem to worship at the temple, they sang … Continue reading
Praying Visions and Bringing in the Sheaves
As a child traveling with my parents to my grandfather’s farm in Middle Tennessee, I eagerly anticipated seeing my grandparents, eating my grandmother’s scrumptious home cooking, and drinking water drawn from their well in the front yard. My eagerness would … Continue reading
A Prayer for God to Surround Us
When a child experiences crisis, being held by a loving parent’s comforting arms restores stability in the midst of chaos. Even as adults, we long for comfort, encouragement, or consolation – when overwhelmed, “I need a hug” leaps to our … Continue reading
If the Lord Had Not Been on Our Side
Psalm 124 expresses thanksgiving and praise for the Lord who is on our side. The exuberant wording of the poem envisions the catastrophic alternative that would have occurred had God not intervened. The psalm begins with recognition of God’s protection, … Continue reading
Prayer when We Have Had Enough
Weariness saps our vision and energy. We cannot concentrate on our goals because our weariness distracts our focus. I remember a general’s embarrassment when he had an automobile accident when he drove while impaired. He told his soldiers that he … Continue reading
