David revealed much about prayer and approaching God in his psalms. His words always seem fresh and honest and even unscripted at times. Two prayers stand out to me from his thoughts in Psalm 25.

The first—Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Then the second—Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.

David turned to the Lord for guidance, to understand the scriptures and to walk in the ways of God. I often pray along the same lines, Lord, what is your will?

But David also suffered hatred from enemies and threats to his life. In those times of feeling cornered, days of intense loneliness, David approached the Lord for relief. Free me from my anguish—who of us have never prayed such a prayer?

Turn to the Lord for guidance and turn to the Lord in pain. David continually turned to the Lord, and I may do so as well.

Psalm 25 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Aaron Burden