Psalm Prayer Guide

by Pastor Paul Dugan

Below is a guide to praying more than one hundred different psalms into your everyday life with God. Click on each psalm for readings, prayer prompts and music. We recommend you bookmark this page on your device for easy access in the future.

Tucked away in the center of your Bible is a goldmine… the Hebrew Psalms. The Psalms are a playlist for all dimensions of the human experience, a soundtrack for all parts of the soul.  This ancient prayer book is a gift to everyday followers of Jesus. It provides a trellis for growing a life of honest communion with God in the midst of the highs and lows of real life in this world.

The rich diversity of literary styles (genres) of the psalms can be arranged around a three-part narrative arc:  Orientation > Disorientation > Reorientation. Together, they provide a narrative arc for the everyday realities of the human story  (Source: Spirituality of the Psalms, by Walter Bruggemann).

Act I - The Psalms of Orientation are prayers that affirm that God is on the throne and life is good and well-ordered. These are the “summer psalms.”  These prayers align us with God and his loving rule and reign over our lives and over all creation. Psalms of Orientation include the following genres (click on psalm for link to each guide): psalms of PRAISE (Psalm 8; Psalm 29; Psalm 33; Psalm 65; Psalm 67; Psalm 95; Psalm 100; Psalm 103; Psalm 104; Psalm 113; Psalm 117; Psalm 132; Psalm 134; Psalm 139; Psalm 145; Psalm 146; Psalm 147; Psalm 148; Psalm 150 ); psalms of ENTHRONEMENT (Psalm 24; Psalm 47; Psalm 68; Psalm 93; Psalm 96; Psalm 98; Psalm 99 ); and psalms of WISDOM (Psalm 1; Psalm 14; Psalm 15; Psalm 19; Psalm 37; Psalm 50; Psalm 90; Psalm 112; Psalm 115; Psalm 119:33-40; Psalm 119:105-112; Psalm 127 ).

Act II - The Psalms of Disorientation are prayers that question God, God’s ways, and God’s presence, from a place of pain, suffering, disappointment or persecution. These are the “winter psalms.”  These prayers train us stop in the middle of the messiness of life and bring it all before God. Psalms of Disorientation include the largest genre of psalms (click on psalm for link to each guide): psalms of LAMENT (Psalm 5; Psalm 6; Psalm 10; Psalm 12; Psalm 13; Psalm 17; Psalm 22; Psalm 25; Psalm 26; Psalm 31; Psalm 39; Psalm 42; Psalm 43; Psalm 51; Psalm 53; Psalm 60; Psalm 64; Psalm 69; Psalm 70; Psalm 77; Psalm 79; Psalm 80; Psalm 82; Psalm 83; Psalm 88:1-8; Psalm 94; Psalm 123; Psalm 130; Psalm 137; Psalm 140; Psalm 141; Psalm 143).

Act III - The Psalms of Reorientation are prayers that look back on suffering through the lens of God’s grace, provision and deliverance. These are the “springtime psalms.” These prayers give voice to our gratitude and trust.. Psalms of Reorientation include the following genres (click on psalm for link to each guide): psalms of SACRED HISTORY (Psalm 105; Psalm 136 ); psalms of THANKSGIVING (Psalm 18; Psalm 30; Psalm 32; Psalm 34; Psalm 92; Psalm 107; Psalm 116; Psalm 118; Psalm 124 ); and psalms of TRUST (Psalm 3; Psalm 4; Psalm 9; Psalm 11; Psalm 16; Psalm 20; Psalm 21; Psalm 23; Psalm 27; Psalm 40; Psalm 46; Psalm 48; Psalm 62; Psalm 63; Psalm 68; Psalm 71; Psalm 73; Psalm 75; Psalm 84; Psalm 86; Psalm 91; Psalm 121; Psalm 131; Psalm 139; Psalm 144).

(Please note: not all psalms fit neatly into a single genre. Many are ‘hybrid’ prayers consisting of two or more literary styles. Ex. Psalm 22 begins as a prayer of lament and concludes with affirmations of trust).

Orientation > Disorientation > Reorientation. This is real life. We all eventually experience the movement from orientation to disorientation, the “winter” of the soul. The disorientation psalms give us both language and an ancient community of pilgrims that help us stay alert to God in the midst of these dark and barren seasons of life. They remind you that you are not alone.

But thankfully, winter is not all year long!  By God’s grace, we move from disorientation to reorientation. Springtime breaks in, and with it comes new life. Reorientation psalms provide prayers of gratitude and trust for times of renewal.

Where are you in your journey?  Orientation, disorientation, or reorientation?  I encourage you to take up the psalms that correspond with this season of your soul, and make them your own.  Allow these ancient prayers to keep you honest and alert before God in the midst of the realities of your life.

For more on the Psalms:

Here is an introduction to the Book of Psalms.

For a list of psalms by literary style (genre) click here.

For an introduction to the narrative arc of the psalms, see Spirituality of the Psalms, by Walter Brueggemann.