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 a sweet aid to your prayer life! For more information about praying the Bible consider reading Don Whitney's book Praying the Bible.

Praying Psalm 38

Oh, Heavenly Father, please don’t punish me out of anger. I know I have sinned against You. The Spirit convicts me, and I have no peace. I am restless because I’ve rebelled against you. My sin overwhelms me, and my guilt afflicts me to the core. I have been foolish, but now I am humbled by the grief of sinning against you. Like David, my sin makes me feel isolated, either because I’ve hurt others, made them ashamed, or they are angry with me. What’s worse, though, is I feel far from you, my Heavenly Father.

My enemies, especially the Devil, want to use this to attack me. They plot against my soul and seek to harm me. But I put my hope in You. I know you have justified me and made me secure in Christ. Lead me to rest in you because I regret my sin. I confess my sin to you. I will not try to hide it. I’m so sorry. Please don’t abandon me.  I know you hear my cry, Father, and even though I’ve sinned, I know you care for me. You are faithful to your people. You love me in Christ. I cannot help myself; You alone are my salvation. Therefore, I wait upon You.

I praise and thank you for providing forgiveness and salvation through Your Son. Through the blood of Christ, I have been washed clean of my sin. Your Word says You are faithful to forgive our sins when we confess them. You will also cleanse us from unrighteousness. I entrust myself to your promise. I trust that Christ has dealt with this sin and that You have forgiven me in Him. You have cleansed me in Christ; now, please help me to walk in the reality of who I am. Apply the cleansing blood of Christ afresh to my heart so that I might know that I’m loved and forgiven. I pray Your forgiveness will heal me and restore me. Thank you for showing me undeserved mercy and grace through the blood of Jesus Christ.

In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Praying Psalm 38 with Kids

Dear Father in Heaven, I know I have sinned against You, and I feel awful about it. I have no peace. Please don’t be angry with me. I can no longer run from my sin, so I confess my sin to you. Please forgive me and help me trust and love you more. Guide my steps, Father, and make me seek Your ways. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins. Help me to rest in His love and trust in Him for forgiveness. Thank you for your mercy, forgiveness, and love.

In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.