How to Read the Psalms

The Psalms are the Bible's prayer book and songbook, 150 honest prayers for every season of the soul. Here's how to make them your own.

The Psalms give words to what we feel but can't express, joy, grief, anger, wonder, trust. They teach us to pray honestly before God.

There are 150, a psalm a day is a rich, sustainable rhythm that carries you through the whole book.

Turn the words into your own prayer. Let the psalmist's honesty give you permission to be honest too.

Afraid? Psalm 27. Broken by sin? Psalm 51. Grateful? Psalm 103. There's a psalm for every state of the soul.

The psalms of lament and even anger show that God can handle all of you, not just your best.

Many psalms point ahead to Christ, Psalm 22 and 23 especially.

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Psalm 19:14 · King James Version (public domain)