14 Psalms to Comfort and Uplift You This Summer
The Psalms are a place to run to and rest in this summer. While the sun makes its way through our windows (or into our eyes), so can the light of the Word of God shine into our souls.
When I don’t know where to turn in life, I turn to the Psalms. They often give a voice to the words of my heart. They soothe, comfort, correct, lament, and direct. When I’m afraid of what lies ahead or celebrating something I’ve made it through, I find the words I need to pray through the Psalms.
Below, we will unpack a few of my favorites and pray through them, showing how they can give us the words we want to say but can’t quite put together ourselves. We will look at a verse or two from each of these psalms, but for further study you can look up the entire psalm.
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1. A Psalm of Delight
“Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night”(Psalm 1:1-2).
Too often, we find delight in things of this world. We seek experiences that make us feel good. Comfort foods, a fun night out, or a day at the spa offer us the relief we think we want and so we go for it.
While these things aren’t bad in and of themselves, nothing can replace the delight found in a soul that is fully seeking fulfillment in God alone. This is the type of delight found in Psalm 1. It’s a soul saying “I want you God, all day long and all night long. You are enough for me.”
Dear God,
I want to find my delight in You. Help me tune my heart to Your voice alone.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
2. A Psalm to Sustain in Difficult Times
“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I cried aloud to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy hill. SelahI lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me”(Psalm 3:3-5).
Life is full of ups and downs. The difficult times often overshadow the good. It only takes one bad day a week to suddenly turn a good week into a bad one. Psalm 3 reminds us that God lifts our heads in battle. We can cry out our deepest woes and receive rest in times of great need.
Dear God,
I need You. Help me to see the ways You are helping me and sustaining me.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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3. A Psalm of Counsel
“I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken”(Psalm 16:7-8).
When we don’t know what to do, our first response is often to run to Google for the answers. With AI accessible with the click of a button or a voice prompt, we can ask a computer anything and get a five-step process on how to conquer whatever it is we are up against.
God’s Word gives us answers too, but too often we don’t want to let God work His process. His timing is often different than what we imagine. In our haste, we bypass the counsel of His Word and forfeit a great opportunity for growth and deeper faith.
Dear God,
I want to set Your Word before me and hear Your counsel. Give me eyes to see and a heart to have faith while I wait.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
4. A Psalm of Adoration
“I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold”(Psalm 18:1-2).
It’s often in the good seasons of life that we forget to thank God. When life is going well, it is easy to go about our days without thanking the Lord. Psalm 18 gives us words to put praise on our lips.
Dear God,
You are my strength, my rock, my deliverer, my shield. Thank you for the good days when all is well in my world.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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5. A Psalm of God’s Providence
“This God — his way is perfect;
the word of the Lord proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him”
(Psalm 18:30).
Something God is teaching me is that He already knows. No matter what we face in life, God is not surprised. He is working all things together for good and He has a purpose for all that is going on in our lives. This truth gives great comfort in seasons of unknown or waiting.
Dear God,
I trust Your way and Your timing. You are faithful. Help my heart to trust You.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
6. A Psalm of Declaration
“The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple”
(Psalm 19:7).
When we don’t know what to do or say, God’s Word gives us the answer. A good practice to try is to declare the truth about the Word of God. When we speak the truth over ourselves, others, and our circumstances, we teach ourselves to trust God no matter what.
Dear God,
Your Word is perfect. You revive my soul and give me wisdom.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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7. A Psalm of Comfort
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake”
(Psalm 23:1-3).
Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known Psalms in the Bible. It gives great comfort in times of loss and grief. But I’ve found it is more than a graveside Psalm. It is a daily affirmation of our amazing Shepherd.
Dear God,
You are my Shepherd. You are all I need. I find comfort in You. My life is Yours.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
8. A Psalm of Obedience
“Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, ‘Seek my face.’
My heart says to you,
‘Your face, Lord, do I seek’”
(Psalm 27:7-8).
Obedience might be the most under rated spiritual discipline. All through the Bible we find obedience tied to blessing. This Psalm speaks directly to the idea of acting on obedience immediately. In doing so, the psalmist gives the Lord His rightful place as leader, King, and ultimate authority.
Dear God,
When You speak, I want to hear and obey.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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9. A Psalm of Thanks
“The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him”
(Psalm 28:7).
Thankfulness is the opposite of worry, distrust, and fear. It illuminates God’s glory and casts our minds toward praise over our problems. This Psalm gives us the words to give thanks.
Dear God,
Thank you for helping me, for being my shield and my strength.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
10. A Psalm of Worship
“I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!”
(Psalm 34:1-3).
Worship is not an event that just happens on Sunday mornings. It is an everyday opportunity to give God glory. When we worship, we shine a light to honor God, not ourselves. It is a daily practice to place our attention and praise on our Savior.
Dear God,
I will bless You all day. I praise You! I magnify Your name and lift You high.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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11. A Psalm of Trust
“Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act”
(Psalm 37:5).
Even though we know God is working things out, sometimes we doubt and struggle to know what to do next. In these times, this Psalm holds a great lesson on what to do. Commit all that you do and trust God will work it out. He always does.
Dear God,
I commit this season to You. I trust You will act in Your perfect timing and way.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
12. A Psalm of Refuge
“God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble”
(Psalm 46:1).
When life is a mess, we need a place to run. A shelter is a welcomed relief when we feel exposed to chaos and uncertainty. That is what God offers through this Psalm.
Dear God,
You are my refuge in difficulty. Help me run to You and know You will keep me safe.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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13. A Psalm of Protection
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust’”
(Psalm 91:1-2).
This is one of the all-time favorites of so many great saints of the faith. The idea of resting under the wings of the Almighty is a comfort and protection we cannot find outside of God. Praying these words of protection for yourself or others is a priceless gift.
Dear God,
I choose to dwell in the shadow and shelter of Your wings. I trust You.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
14. A Psalm of the Blessed
“Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord!
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart”
(Psalm 119:1-2).
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. Every verse captures the blessing of God’s Word in a trusting heart. If you simply take a look through the action words, you can find a wonderful plan to head in the direction of God’s blessing.
Dear God,
I choose to walk in Your way, and seek You with my whole heart.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Choose one of these Psalms and pray it regularly or go through one each day for a couple weeks and see how it impacts your walk with God. His Word is powerful and impactful. It changes us. Praying the Psalms isn’t just a cute exercise, it is a transformational way of putting words to our prayers through God’s Word. Try it and let me know how it impacts you.
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