Lent 2025 School of Prayer

Day 7: Using the Psalms to guide your prayers

“My soul pants for you, my God, just as the deer pants for streams of water.” — Psalm 42:1

With its unvarnished and honest pleas that convey joy, sadness, trust, fear, praise, and repentance, the Psalms are frequently referred to be the Bible’s prayer book. The Psalms provide us with phrases to present to God when we are at a loss for words. They serve as a reminder that prayer is about coming as we are, not about saying the correct things.

In every stage of life, David, the poet of several Psalms, gave his all to God. He cried in times of sorrow (Psalm 13:1-2), asked for pardon in times of failure (Psalm 51:1-2), and gave thanks in times of triumph (Psalm 18:1-3). Whatever he had to deal with, he prayed about it all to God.

Pick a Psalm that speaks to you today; it could be one of trust, lament, or gratitude. Take your time reading it and use it as a private prayer. Allow the words of Scripture to lead you to a closer relationship with God.

Thought: Which Psalm resonates with you right now? In what ways might the Psalms enhance your Lent prayer life? Think about committing a verse to memory so you can pray it all day long.

Fasting and Giving: Give your time to someone in need. Call a lonely friend or visit someone.

Here is an organized list of Psalms by Topic to guide your prayers:

✨ Praise (Worshiping God’s greatness and majesty)

• Psalm 8 – The glory of God in creation
• Psalm 19 – The heavens declare the glory of God
• Psalm 29 – The power of God’s voice
• Psalm 47 – God reigns over all the earth
• Psalm 103 – Bless the Lord, O my soul
• Psalm 150 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord

💔 Lament (Crying out to God in pain or distress)

• Psalm 13 – How long, O Lord?
• Psalm 22 – My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
• Psalm 42 – Why are you downcast, O my soul?
• Psalm 77 – I cried out to God for help
• Psalm 88 – A cry from deep suffering
• Psalm 130 – Out of the depths I cry to You, Lord

🙏 Gratitude (Thanksgiving for God’s blessings)

• Psalm 9 – I will give thanks to You, Lord
• Psalm 23 – The Lord is my Shepherd
• Psalm 30 – You turned my mourning into dancing
• Psalm 34 – Taste and see that the Lord is good
• Psalm 92 – It is good to give thanks to the Lord
• Psalm 136 – His love endures forever

🛡️ Trust (Confidence in God’s guidance and protection)

• Psalm 16 – You will not abandon me
• Psalm 27 – The Lord is my light and my salvation
• Psalm 46 – God is our refuge and strength
• Psalm 56 – When I am afraid, I will trust in You
• Psalm 91 – He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
• Psalm 121 – My help comes from the Lord

🌑 Absence of God (Feeling distant from God)

• Psalm 10 – Why, O Lord, do You stand far off?
• Psalm 42 – As the deer pants for streams of water
• Psalm 43 – Why have You rejected me?
• Psalm 63 – My soul thirsts for You
• Psalm 77 – Has His love vanished forever?
• Psalm 89 – Where is Your faithfulness, O Lord?