The following article is an excerpt from Praying with David by Michael Phillips.
Obviously this list does not include all David’s prayers in the Psalms, but highlights the unifying themes of David’s prayer life.
Psalm 5 – Lead me in your righteousness.
Psalm 17 – Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 19 – Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight.
Psalm 25 – Make me know your ways, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me. Turn to me and be gracious. Relieve the troubles of my heart. Forgive my sins. Guard my life. May integrity and uprightness preserve me.
Psalm 26 – Prove me and try me, test my heart and mind.
Psalm 27 – Teach me your ways and lead me on a level path
Psalm 43 – Send out your light and truth, let them lead me.
Psalm 51 – Wash me thoroughly, cleanse me from my sin. Teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me. Fill me with joy and gladness. Create in me a clean heart, and put a new and right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation.
Psalm 61 – Let me dwell in your tent forever.
Psalm 71 – Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress.
Psalm 86 – Teach me your way that I may walk in truth. Unite my heart.
Psalm 119 – May my way be steadfast in keeping your statutes. Do not let me wander from your commandments. Teach me your statutes. Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things in your law. Teach me your statutes. Make me understand the way of your precepts. Strengthen me according to your word. Put false ways far from me. Graciously teach me your law. Enlarge my understanding. Teach me the way of your statutes. Give me understanding that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments. Incline my heart to your testimonies. Turn my eyes from vanities. Teach me your statutes. Teach me good judgment and knowledge. Teach me your statutes. May my heart be blameless in your statutes. Teach me your ordinances. Uphold me according to your promises. Teach me your statutes. Give me understanding that I may learn your testimonies. Keep my steps steady according to your promise. Let no iniquity get dominion over me. Give me understanding that I may live. Give me understanding according to your word.
Psalm 139 – Search my heart and know my thoughts. See if there be any wicked way in me. Lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 143 – Teach me the way I should go. Teach me to do your will.
– Excerpted from pages 70-71 of Praying with David by Michael Phillips
Continue Reading: Praying with David by Michael Phillips
In Praying with David, best-selling author Michael Phillips explores how David’s prayers were inwardly focused on his thoughts, sin, frailty, spiritual character, and his need for God. When the fiery tempest within him stilled, hearkening back to his youth as a shepherd boy on the hillside with his sheep, the divine Fatherhood slowly crept into David’s heart, mind, and soul.
In those moments of solitude, David discovered what it meant to have a personal, transparent, authentic relationship with his God.