Psalm 58

v. 6 Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!

Father there is evil in the world.  You know that far better than I do.  Why do you tolerate the evil like you do?  I can never understand, but I trust you are God and you know what you're doing.  You are nothing but good.  You are perfect.  Lord, thwart the plans of the wicked.  Stop them.  Stop the violence.  Stop the killing.  Stop the hurting.  Tend to the afflicted.  Help them.  Rescue them from evil.  Tear down those who are bent on destruction.  We need your healing and rescuing hand so desperately.  Amen.

Psalm 57

v. 11   Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

Father, you are holy, you are perfect, you are the one and only God.  You are King.  Let your name be praised.  Let your name be praised everywhere all the time.  Make my heart new.  Let my mouth be full of praise.  Let my steps be guided by you everywhere all the time.  I need you.  I love you.
Thank you Jesus.  Reign in me.  Reign in us.  Reign over all.  Let your Kingdom come, let your will be done.  Be glorified most high God.  Amen.

Psalm 56

v. 3 and 10   When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise -- in the Lord, whose word I praise.


Father I put my trust in you.  At least, I want to.  Show me and teach me to trust you.  On my own, I am afraid.  With you, I can fear nothing.  I give you praise.  You are God.  You are King.  You are all powerful and everlasting.  I can't imagine your greatness and glory.  I praise your Name and I praise your Word.  You are the Word.  Take my fear.  Take my heart.  Take my life.

Psalm 55

v. 9 Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city.

Lord, their is violence and strife throughout your world.  There is wickedness throughout the cities of your world.  Would you take the cities back?  Would you reign in people's hearts.  Lord, confuse and confound the wicked.  Protect your people.  Bring the nations back to you.  Judge the wicked and evil.  Have your way.  You are God.  Let your will be done.  Amen.

Psalm 54

v. 6  I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.

Father, you bless me when I absolutely don't deserve it.  You love and give us good things when I turn my back on you.  Thank you for your mercy.  I will indeed praise your name, Lord, for it is good.  Your name is good.  Your name is holy.  You are God and king.  I love you.  Take my life.  I don't know how to give it.  My life is my freewill offering to you.  I need you Jesus.  You are God.  Amen.

Psalm 53

v. 2  God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.

Father, what do you see when you look at me.  Do I understand?  Do I seek you?  Or am I playing a game?  Does typing out this prayer show that I understand, that I seek you and that I love you?  Or am I going through the motions in a way that brings you dishonor.  God, I know in my brain that you are God.  I know you are perfect and loving and huge and powerful.  I also know that I can't really understand you.  I can't comprehend who you are.  Lord, show me who you are.  Help me understand.  Lead me to seek you.  Amen.

Psalm 52

v. 9  For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.  And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.

Lord God, your Name is good.  Yours is the Name above all others.  You are my King.  You are my God.  I love you and I need you.  Help me to follow you.  Help me to obey you.  Show me your glory that I might praise you.  I will give you praise always.  I want to anyway.  I am so weak and so flawed.  I need you Jesus.  Help me to live a life of  praise.  Help me to begin my day praying and praising you.  Help me to end my day praying and praising you.  Help me to learn more of what it means to hope in your name.  Show me Father.  Teach me Holy Spirit.  Transform me and renew my mind.  Amen.

Psalm 51

v. 2 and 3  Wash away my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Father, wash and cleanse me.  I am so badly in need of your love.  I am so badly in need of your mercy.  Take me and change me.  Make me like you.  Make me clean.  Make me whole.  I am pulled in so many directions.  Give me the time to focus on you.  To focus on your beauty.  To focus on your love.  I am such a sinful man.  I am capable of all kinds of evil.  Lead me not into temptation, and deliver me from evil.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Psalm 50

v. 3  Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.

The power of our God is unimaginable.  Father, I can say that but I don't really understand.  I don't really understand how great you are.  You are beyond comprehension.  We try and come up with words to explain your power and might, and it never does the job.  We can't grasp the magnitude of who you are.  Thank you for being an all powerful and unsearchable God, and yet making yourself and your kingdom available to us, your children.  I love you Jesus.  Amen.

Psalm 49

Verse 20: People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.

Father, I have been blessed with great wealth.  I have so much.  Let me not lack understanding.  Let me recognize that You are all I need, and that every good thing is a gift from You.  Amen.

Psalm 48

Verse 9: Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.

Verse 14: For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.

Lord God, my heart is divided.  I am pulled in 10 different directions.  I need rest.  You promise rest.  Draw me into your temple to meditate on your love, to ponder your goodness and your care for us.  You are a great God...I can't comprehend your power.  I can't imagine the depths of your love.  As I seek to follow you, keep me close to you, draw me into your arms.  Guide me.  Lead me to the end.  You are God for ever and ever.  Amen.

Psalm 47

Verse 6:  Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.

Father, God in Heaven I praise you.  I give you all glory and honor.  I know I like to try and run my own life, and I'm sorry for choosing my ways over Your perfect love and Your perfect plan.  I praise Your Name.  I praise Your glory and power.  You alone are God.  You alone are King.  You alone are infinite and worthy of praise.  I cannot grasp your power and might.  I love you Jesus.
Amen.

Psalm 46

Verse 2: Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

It's not if trouble comes, but when and how, isn't it Lord?  Trouble is coming.  Trouble is here.  And yet, we will not fear.  We will not fear because You are in charge.  You are perfect.  Your ways are so far beyond us we can't even begin to comprehend.  And you have never and will never leave us to face anything alone.  You have been where we are and you understand everything perfectly in ways we cannot fathom.  Thank you for being our perfect, sovereign and loving God.  Thank you for killing death.  Thank you for making it possible to live fearlessly.  Amen.

Psalm 45

v. 6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

Lord God, you are holy and just.  You are everlasting.  You are eternal.  Thank you for being a powerful, everlasting God.  Your infinite power, justice and love are incomprehensible.  Thank you for being an incomprehensible God, who has made Himself available to His people.  Thank you for being available to me.  Thank you that good trumps evil.  Thank you that justice will reign forever.  Thank you that we ought to fear no evil for you are with us.  Amen.

Psalm 44

v. 26  Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.

Lord, please help us.  Help my family.  Help my marriage.  Heal us.  Save us.  Rescue us because of your unfailing love.  We don't deserve to be rescued, but you will do it.  Please have mercy on me.  We can't do this ourselves.  We need you.  And yet I live so often like I don't need you at all.  I am learning.  I am learning that I am nothing without you.  I love you Lord.  Amen.

Psalm 43

v. 5  Why, my soul, are you downcast?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

When can I meet with God?  He is the answer to my needs.  You are the answer to my needs Lord.  No one else.  Nothing can do your job for you.  And you long to do it.  You desire to meet my needs.  You know my heart and know what I need.  You have made a way for me to come to you.  Thank you Jesus.  Thank you for knowing me so well and loving me anyway.  Thank you that I don't have to hide from you.  I can't hide from you.  Help me to put my hope in you...100%.  Not 99%.  Take me.  Take my heart.  I will yet praise you, my Savior and my God.
Amen.

Psalm 42

v. 2  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When can I go and meet with God?


Wow, what a verse.  Father, Lord, please make this my attitude.  When can I go and meet with you?  Give me a hunger for your presence that exceeds anything I have ever know.  I was born to be Yours.  I was created to live in your kingdom and be part of your family.  Give my soul a powerful thirst for you.  I love you and I need you.  Thank you for never quitting on me.  Thank you for never turning your back on me, even though I so often deserve your anger.  Amen.

Psalm 41

v. 1  Blessed are those who have regard for the weak the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.

Lord I am weak, and yet I have so much.  Help me to look out for and take care of those in need.  Make me an advocate for the forgotten.  Make me a man who loves and gives without regard for myself.  Make that true of me, please, and deliver me from times of trouble.  I need you.  Help me Jesus.

Psalm 40

v. 8  I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.


Father, please let this be true of me.  I find it easy to obey sometimes, and sometimes I feel like I absolutely can't do it.  Let me soak up your Word and hide it in my heart.  I need you.  Amen.

Psalm 39

verse 5: You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you.  Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.


Father, You are my security.  I am nothing without you.  You are infinite, you are all-powerful.  I know that apart from you I can do nothing and apart from you I am nothing.  Help me to look to you alone for security and comfort.  Help me to trust you and know that I am secure no matter the circumstances.  You are the best.  Thank you for loving me and saving me, for teaching me and for being so incredibly patient with me.  You are my God and King.  Amen.

Psalm 38

v. 15  Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.

I do wait.  I wait for you to show yourself and fix the brokenness I see all around me.  I see broken people doing broken people things.  I see myself, broken and laid low.  The world is a mess in so many ways.  But I know you are on the throne and we can trust.  Help me to wait patiently, to believe you are at work, and to do whatever You want me to do along the way.  I want to be part of Your solution rather than being part of the problems.  I wait for you, Lord.

v. 18 I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.

Lord God, I am a sinner.  Have mercy on me.  I am so badly in need of you.  Help me to find the right way to be troubled by my sin, while also being grateful for your mercy, grace and forgiveness.  Help me to rejoice in the midst of my troubling sin.  What should that look like?  Thank you for being our God.  I love you.  Amen.

Psalm 37

verse 4: Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.


Father, I know I get this backwards all the time.  I expect or hope that you will give me the desires of my heart and at that point I will delight myself in you.  But that isn't what you tell me...I need to delight myself in you, and in you alone, and as I learn to actually do that I will have the desires of my heart.  The desires of my heart change to match yours as I become more and more able to delight myself in you.  Help me learn to delight myself in you.  Change the desires of my heart to line up with yours.  Help me Jesus.  Change me Holy Spirit.  Make me holy.  I need you.

Psalm 36

v. 1 I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Lord, let me have the fear of God in my eyes and in my heart.  Show me how it works and what it looks like for me to give you the respect you are owed.  I owe you everything.  I want to give you my all.  Take it from me Father; I don't know how to give it to you.  I love you and I need you.  Thank you for showing me mercy.  Teach me the fear of God.  

Psalm 35

v. 1  Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.


Lord, I don't understand the spiritual battle.  It's weird.  But I understand that I have an enemy that I can't battle on my own.  I lose that battle every time.  Fight for me, Lord God.  Save me.  Help me.  Protect me.  Thank you for your love and protection.  Thank you for being our all powerful God.  Thank you for taking the battle to our enemy.  Thank you for new life and for conquering death.  You have fought those who fight against me.  You have won for all eternity.  Amen.

Psalm 34

v. 19 The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.

Lord God, I have troubles sometimes.  Many of them are certainly my doing.  Some are not.  Sometimes I deal with problems I cause, sometimes with problems caused by others.  I have never been left alone with a problem...you always fight for me.  You always protect me.  You always take care of me.  I am not a righteous man apart from you, Lord Jesus.  Thank you for allowing me to be a righteous man because of your death.  Your sacrifice is my righteousness.  Your victory allows me to be free.  Thank you.  Thank you for making me; for giving me life and new life in you.  I love you.  Help me to act like it.  Thank you God.

Psalm 33

v. 6  By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.


Lord, your power is unfathomable.  You are infinite and eternal, and I can't grasp either of those ideas.  I thank you that your love is perfect and that you chose to use your power to love and create.  Thank you for your creation, and thank you for creating us to dwell in your creation with you.  Make me more like you...not infinite and eternal, but loving and full of grace.  Thank you for your abundant grace.  You are so good.  I love you and give you all praise.

Psalm 32

Verse 9:  Do not be like the horse or the mule which have no understanding, but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

Father, far too often I am like the horse.  I am like the mule.  I behave like I have no understanding.  I refuse to obey, I refuse to come to you.  Thank you for grabbing me, for putting the bridle to me.  I need it.  I need you.  Make me a man who doesn't need to be controlled, but who obeys gladly.  I beg this of you in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Psalm 31

Verse 19: How abundant are the good things you have stored up for those who fear you; that you bestow in the sight of all for those who take refuge in you.


Father, thank you for the abundance of good things you bestow upon your people and upon me.  Help me to know the fear of God properly.  Help me to follow you well.  Help me to take refuge in you.  Thank you for your awesome power.  Thank you for your majesty and unmatched goodness.  I love you.  I fear you.  I take refuge in you.  Amen.

Psalm 30

Verse 5: For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor a lifetime.  The weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.


Father thank you for your promise.  I desire your favor, not your anger.  I know your anger with me would be well deserved.  I don't really understand how it all works...how can you not be furious with me most of the time?  I know we've had times of weeping.  I know I don't make life easy for myself or my family.  I don't make it easy for you to love me.  But you love me anyway.  You are happy I am here.  Help me Jesus.  Thank you that your anger lasts only a moment.  And thank you for the times of weeping...they help us to see you.  They help us to trust you.  Life has not been easy.  You would think it is, but it isn't.  We are stretched and pulled in so many directions.  I am tired.  I mess up.  I need your help.

Thank you Jesus.

Amen.

Psalm 29

Verse 2: Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.


Father I worship you.  You alone are God.  You alone are King.  I know that.  Be glorified in all I do.  Be glorified in your creation.  You are holy and magnificent.  Help me to understand your glory and greatness.  Help me to properly fear your glory and greatness and majesty.  You are Almighty God, and I give you all praise and glory.  Amen.

Psalm 28

Verse 8: The Lord is the strength of his people; a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.


Lord, be our strength.  Be my strength.  I am out of strength.  Thank you for being our fortress.  No matter how far I wander, don't ever let me go.  Lead me back to you.  Be my strength and my fortress.  I am weak.  I need you Father.

Psalm 27

Verse 8 - My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"  Your face, Lord, I will seek.


Lord God, put your words into my heart.  Don't let me follow the wickedness that tries to take me over -- let me follow you.  Let your Spirit reign in me.  Show me how to seek your face.  Show me how to learn to love you more.  I want to seek your face.  Please give me the wisdom to prioritize my life that I might be intentional to seek your face.  Don't let me be a slave to the busyness of life and the to-do list.  Let me be a slave to you and to your loving, guiding hand.  Amen.  Reign in me Lord Jesus.

Psalm 26

Verse 8: Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells.


Father, I want to be where you are.  Take me there and keep me there.  Don't let me wander away.  Grab hold of me and keep me close to you.  I long to live in your presence; I need you to hold me.

Psalm 25

Verse 7: Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.

Father, I love this verse.  I love it that you think of me according to your love, which is perfect and untainted by my sin.  Lord, help me to be an obedient man.  Lead me not into temptation.  And when I fall, do not remember the sins of my youth.  Do not remember my rebellion.  Have mercy on me, a sinner.  You are good indeed.  Thank you and amen.

Psalm 24

Verse 10 -- Who is he, this King of glory?  The Lord Almighty, he is the King of glory.


Lord, God Almighty, you are the King.  You are my King.  Thank you for grabbing hold of me.  Thank you for your power and majesty.  Thank you that you are incomprehensible, yet near to us all the time.  Thank you for your love, mercy and grace.  Thank you for being our God, for being my God.  I love you and want to love you more.

Amen.

Psalm 23

Verse 1: The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
Verse 4:  Though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for you are with me.  Your rod and staff comfort me.


Father, thank you for being my shepherd.  Thank you for being my God.  Thank you that I lack nothing.  Let me see what life would look like if I actually trusted you with my heart.  If I actually trusted you with my circumstances and needs.  I know that apart from you I can do nothing -- I need you and I am complete because of you Jesus.  Help me to fear no evil.  Thank you for promising an escape from temptation.  Thank you for your rod and staff that comfort me.  I know that comfort is not the most important thing, but that you certainly do provide comfort in the midst of discomfort.  You are so good.  I love you.  Thank you for never letting me go.

Amen.

Psalm 22

Verse 1: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?

Verse 19: But you, Lord, do not be far from me.  You are my strength; come quickly to help me.

God, I know you have never left me.  I know you have never forsaken me.  I know that you, Jesus, were abandoned and forsaken so that I would never have to be.  Stay near me, do not be far from me Lord.  I do need your help, please give me strength.  Be my strength.  Thank you for answered prayer.  Thank you for taking care of me.  I need you.  Thank you for paying the price for my sin.

Psalm 21

Verse 13: Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might.


Lord God, Creator of all, Lord over all, your strength is unimaginable.  Your power and might are boundless.  You alone are worthy of praise and worship.  You alone are God.  Let nothing come between you and me.  Let nothing ever take your place in my heart.  Let me praise you for your power and glory always.  Amen.

Psalm 20

Verses 19-20 - Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God.  They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.


Father, I want to rise up and stand firm.  I know the only way there is to trust in You.  Help me to trust in You.  My power is not from me, it's only from you.  I need you.  I need help.  Hold me close and help me to be strong in You.  Amen.

Psalm 19

Verse 8: "The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.  The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes."

Lord, I know your precepts are right and your commands are good.  Please give joy to my heart and light to my eyes as I learn to walk with you obediently, trusting You rather than me.

Psalm 18

Verse 1: "I love you Lord, my strength."

Verse 30: "As for God, his way is perfect.  The Lord's word is flawless.  He shields all who take refuge in him."

I do love you God.  You are indeed my strength.  Shield me.  Show me and help me know how to take refuge in you.  I cry out to you and you hear me.  Your love in amazing and powerful.  You have changed me.  You have saved me.  Thank you for your perfect way.  Thank you for your flawless word.  I give you all praise.  You are the best....nothing is like you God.  Shield my children.  Shield my wife.  Give us a love for you like we've never known.  In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Psalm 17

Verse 8: "Keep me as the apple of your eye.  Let me hide in the shadow of your wings"


Father, I don't deserve that you should love me.  I am sorry for wandering away from you...sometimes very intentionally.  Thank you for holding on to me.  Thank you for bringing me into your family and your Kingdom.  Jesus, I need you.  Please help me believe that  I can be the apple of your eye.  And hide me from all that would seek to tear me down, to destroy me and all that I love and need.  Do you really see me that way?  Do you really love me that much?  Am I really the apple of your eye?  Help me believe it.  I thank you and I love you.  Amen.

Psalm 16

You make known to me the path of life.  You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. - verse 11


Father I want to know you.  I want to be close to you.  Even when I don't feel like I care, I know you are the One who holds my heart.  Please make the path of life known to me, please fill me with joy and draw me into your presence.  I want to be yours in every way, and yet I turn from you every day.  Grab hold of me and don't let me go.  I love you...help me to live like I love you.  Help me to obey you and to know the joy of obedience.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Psalm 15

Verses 1-2: Lord who can dwell in your sacred tent, who can live on your holy mountain?  The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous and who tells the truth from his heart.

OK, so I just looked up this passage in my NIV and I got a couple words wrong, but I'm calling it pretty close.  So here's my prayer:

Lord I need you.  My walk is not blameless, I often do not do what is righteous.  Yet I desire to live on your holy mountain.  I want to be with you.  Make me clean, wash me in Your blood Jesus, and help me change.  Let Your Holy Spirit have His way with me.  Turn my heart toward You.

Psalm 14

Verse 2:  The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind, to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.


Father I pray two things...let there be more and more people who seek You, who understand.  And let me be one of those people.  Let me be a man who seeks You in all things.  I want to live for You.
Amen.

Psalm 13

Verse 5 - "But I trust in your unfailing love.  My heart rejoices in your salvation."

Lord, this psalm begins with questions.  Questions you aren't afraid of, like where are You, and how long will you allow me to suffer?  I ask those questions often.  Probably too often.  I know where you are -- You are here.  You are with me.  You love and you care.  I do trust in your unfailing love.  Thank you that your love is unfailing.  My heart does rejoice in your salvation.  Help me to trust and rejoice more all the time.  I need you and I love you.  Help me Father.  Help me Jesus.  Help me Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Psalm 12

Verse 6: "And the words of the Lord are flawless.  Like silver purified in the crucible.  Like gold refined seven times."

Lord your words are beautiful.  They are good.  They can be trusted.  Because you are beautiful, good and trustworthy.  Sometimes it is hard to remember that.  Sometimes it is hard to trust you and to wait on you to deliver what You have promised.  Help me to obey patiently without getting caught up in the desires of the moment.  I love you.  Thank you for your flawless, pure words.  Amen.

Psalm 11

Verse 7: "For the Lord is righteous.  He loves justice.  The upright will see his face."

Lord, thank you for being a righteous God who loves justice.  This world is unjust because we have rebelled against you.  I have rebelled against you Father.  Forgive me and have mercy on me.  Let me walk with you, and thank you Jesus for being upright when I couldn't be.  For allowing me a way to see the Father that I couldn't earn on my own.  You are my righteousness.  Thank you God.

Psalm 10

Verse 17 - "You, Lord hear the desire of the afflicted.  You encourage them, and You listen to their cry".

Lord God I am afflicted.  I deal with so many problem and hurts, most of which are self-inflicted.  I guess I am self-afflicted.  Not just for me, but for so many people in your world with huge, real problems, God I pray you would encourage them and listen to their cry.  You want us to cry out to You.  Gather up a people to Yourself and teach us to cry out to You.  Teach us about your compassion, about your passion for healing the brokenhearted.  You are beautiful God.  Thank you for loving, for caring, for listening and for encouraging.  Help and heal those who know they need Your mercy...help and heal those who haven't figured that out yet.  Let me be a vessel of your care, love and encouragement.  I love you.  Amen.