“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”
King David was one of the most prolific writers in the Old Testament. Over half of the Psalms are attributed to him. The Psalms often read like David’s private journal and convey every human mood and emotion. In some of them, he is repentant. In others, he is joyful. Still others show David crying out to God in frustration, questioning why YAWEH has not answered his prayers.
In reality, David’s prayers can become ours. Sometimes we need to repent. Sometimes we just need to express our praise to God for all He has done for us. And yes, there will be times when need to cry out to God when we don’t understand what is going on in our lives. The Psalms should be a part of your prayer life because they are about life- all aspects of it.
If you have ever found prayer difficult, try using the Psalms to help you connect with God. I promise you that there is a Psalm for every occasion and they will help give the words to begin connecting with God. I read something from the Psalms every day and it almost always resonates with where I am spiritually.
Read through the Psalms over the next few months. Use them to help guide your prayer time. Let the prayers of David become your prayers!
Annie and I are serving the Lord in the US, India, Africa, and beyond. We are training leaders, helping build great local churches, and investing heavily in the next generation. You can help us continue to make an impact. We would love to have you on our team. Just click here to get involved. Thanks so much!
