In our Praying the Psalms blog series, we'll use the summer to model how to pray the Bible. Follow along each week as we post a devotional prayer based on the Psalm from Sunday's sermon. Additionally, we'll include a prayer to pray with your kids that will help teach them how to pray the Bible. We hope this will be an encouraging aid to your prayer life! For more information about praying the Bible, consider reading Don Whitney's book Praying the Bible.

Praying Psalm 50

Father, my chief end is to glorify You and enjoy You forever. The instructions in this psalm point me directly to this end. Please help me to take heed of Your words and remember what is true:

Your perfection and beauty are evident. Your holiness shines forth and gives light to all that is dark.
You are a right and righteous Judge. There is no injustice that can be uttered from Your mouth, and You will not keep silent.
There is no sacrifice I can make or offering I can present that will satisfy the wrath that must be unleashed on my sin. There is also nothing in me that is hidden from You.
Though I cannot offer a worthy sacrifice, I will bow my heart in gratefulness for the One who did — Jesus Christ my Lord. I will give to You my love and obedience, and I will seek You in the day of trouble and glorify You for Your deliverance of me.
Help me to not live as a hypocrite, uttering false praises from my lips when my heart does not follow You. Help me to deeply love my brothers and sisters. Remind me daily that “those who do ill commonly delight in speaking ill of others.” Lord, I cannot make my heart right! Please create in me a clean heart!

I am the greatest of sinners and, yet, You wait for me. Your lovingkindness and mercy astound me; let me never forget it!

I offer to You now the deepest thanksgiving for all that You are and all that You have done. Help me to order my way rightly and, thus, see Your salvation!

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Praying Psalm 50 with Kids

Father, You are perfect and lovely. You judge rightly and see my heart clearly. I know I continually sin before You. I love You and desire to follow You and give thanks for all that You are and all that You have done. I praise You for sending Jesus to die for my sin when there was nothing I could do to save myself. I admit that I often say I love You, but my actions do not prove that to be true. Please make my heart and my words the same and help me to live in a manner that is thankful to You. I love You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.