If you turn to the Bible when you are feeling down, it’s likely you have turned to the book of Psalms. You might even have favorite psalms of your own! The psalms are full of poetic expression of the writers’ feelings of joy, fear, sadness, and praise.
It’s likely there is a psalm for every emotion! Here are 10 favorite psalms you can turn to, no matter how you are feeling.
Favorite Psalms
The first three of these are popular Psalms. This was determined by how many times people searched for this Psalm on the internet, so the results are subjective and may be influenced by other factors. It is still an interesting snapshot of which Psalms people are interested in exploring.
Psalm 91
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1
Psalm 91 is a treasure of Bible verses to help us find our peace and refuge in the Lord. Full of hope of deliverance and salvation, it is a favorite Psalm to turn to when life’s problems weigh heavy.
Psalm 23
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1
Psalm 23 is not a surprising addition to the favorite Psalms list. This Psalm of David, who was a shepherd, uses the analogy of the Lord as our shepherd to illustrate His care for us, even through dangerous and difficult circumstances.
Psalm 27
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1
Psalm 27 repeatedly shows the psalmist turning to the Lord as he is faced with opposition from his enemies. We can learn from His example. He reviews what he knows to be true about God and turns to Him in prayer.
The next three Psalms are psalms of comfort and strength. We can always turn to God for comfort and strength. Psalms have chapters full of descriptions of our mighty Lord, who is merciful on us and protects us. We can rely on Him for our strength!
Psalm 62
“My salvation and my honor is with God. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” Psalm 62:1
God is our refuge! A refuge is defined as “ shelter or protection from danger or distress.” God is those things, and more.
Psalm 103
“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Psalm 103:1
God’s merciful view of us is found in Psalm 103. “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (vs.11-12)
Without forgiveness, our sin separates us from God. But God, in His mercy, provided the gift of salvation so He could separate us from our sin!
Psalm 119
“This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has revived me.” Psalm 119:50
Psalm 119 is not only the longest chapter in the book of Psalms, but also the longest chapter in the Bible. It is one of my favorite psalms.
The NIV Study Bible describes it as a “hymn celebrating the word of God,” and verse 50 captures that. God’s Word does indeed revive us!
The next four Psalms are Psalms that are helpful to pray through. I love to use Scripture to pray, especially after years of participating in a Moms in Prayer group.
It usually reminds me to pray for characteristics I hadn’t thought of, or helps to focus on something for an extended amount of time. Here are 4 favorite psalms to pray.
Psalm 111 – A Psalm of Praise
“Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.” Psalm 111:1 ESV
Praying through Psalm 111 reminds us of just a few reasons why the Lord is worthy of praise and trust. Spend time reviewing these in praying through Psalm 111.
Psalm 100 – A Psalm of Thanksgiving
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, and bless his name.” Psalm 100:4
We praise God by thanking Him for who He is. In thanksgiving, we thank Him for what He has done. Reflect on what God has done in your life and what prayers He has answered while you pray through Psalm 100.
Psalm 51 – A Psalm Seeking Forgiveness
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
The psalmist and king of Israel, David, had sinned and the prophet Nathan called him on it. David repented, and asked for God’s forgiveness. Even though David’s sin was great, the Lord forgave Him.
Are there sins you are struggling with and need to seek God’s forgiveness? Praying through Psalm 51 can help express your grief over your sin to the Lord.
Psalm 56 – A Psalm of Deliverance
“I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Psalm 56:11
The psalmist David was in imminent physical danger, and he turned to the Lord. Whatever we are worried about, we can turn to the Lord and ask Him to deliver us. God sees us and He cares.
Enjoy reviewing many of these Psalms and more in this video from the Hope Filled Faith YouTube channel.
Free Printable Psalm 103 Coloring Page
I made this printable coloring page of Psalm 103:1 as a free gift to download from my free downloads page.
The book of Psalms can be an encouraging book to read in the Bible. If you want to make it a part of your routine, you can even follow this 90 day plan from the Unlimited Potential website with morning and evening readings to read through the whole book! Soon enough, you will have one of your own favorite Psalms.
If you liked 10 Favorite Psalms, you may also like 8 Powerful Bible Verses about How God Sees Us.
