Prayer · How-to guides
How to Pray the Psalms
The Psalms are the Bible's own prayer book, giving words to every human feeling, from joy to despair. Praying them teaches your heart how to speak to God.
Choose a Psalm that matches your heart
Anxious? Try Psalm 23 or 46. Grateful? Psalm 103. Weighed down by wrong? Psalm 51. Let the Psalm meet you where you are.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”Psalm 23:1, King James Version
Read it slowly, out loud if you can
Do not rush. Let each line settle. Reading aloud slows you down and lets the words become your own.
“O taste and see that the LORD is good.”Psalm 34:8, King James Version
Pray it back, line by line
Pause after each verse and turn it into your own prayer, adding your name, your situation, your people to the words.
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD.”Psalm 19:14, King James Version
Be as honest as the Psalms are
The Psalms hold nothing back, praise and complaint, trust and questions. They give you permission to bring your real self to God.
“How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever?”Psalm 13:1, King James Version
Let them lead you back to trust
Notice how so many Psalms turn, even in the dark, toward hope. Let that turn happen in you too.
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? ... hope thou in God.”Psalm 42:11, King James Version
The One who makes this possible: Jesus
Jesus prayed the Psalms His whole life, and even from the cross He spoke their words. They pointed to Him all along, His suffering, His trust, His triumph. When you pray the Psalms, you are praying in the very words your Savior loved, and being drawn close to Him.
You do not have to pray alone. You can ask the family to pray with you, or step into a quiet place to pray right now.
Common questions
Which Psalm should I start with?
Psalm 23 is a gentle, beloved place to begin. For anxiety try Psalm 46, for gratitude Psalm 103, and for a heavy conscience Psalm 51. Let your need guide your choice.
Is it okay to pray the angry or sad Psalms?
Yes. The Psalms model complete honesty with God, including grief, fear, and even complaint. God is not fragile; He invites your real heart, and the honest Psalms often end by turning back to trust.