How to Pray Like David

So recently, I was listening to A early faith playlist that’s kind of become a Sunday morning ritual. Helps me to prepare my heart and head before leading on Sundays. The song from Petra called, “I will Celebrate”, literally chanting the phrase “I will pray like David prayed.”

Which had me pondering what are the things that we can learn from psalms and any of David’s prayers that are applicable to our own prayer life. Because I know for me personally how transparent I am with God is the only way I know how to be in my faith. So what do we learn from David?

-Ace

David, the King of Israel, is often remembered as “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22). His life, documented in the books of Samuel, Kings, and the Psalms, provides profound insights into his relationship with God, particularly through his prayers. David faced numerous challenges, including battles, personal failures, and family strife, yet in all circumstances, he turned to God in prayer, expressing his heart authentically.

David’s prayers, predominantly found in the Psalms, encapsulate a wide range of emotions, from lament and anguish to joy and thanksgiving. They demonstrate his intimacy with God and his reliance on divine guidance and intervention.

Key Verses

1. Psalm 51:10-12 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
2. Psalm 63:1 – “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”
3. Psalm 86:5 – “For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.”
4. Psalm 139:23-24 – “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts.”
5. Psalm 27:4 – “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life…”

Discussion Questions

1. Emotion in Prayer: How does David express different emotions in his prayers? What can we learn from his honesty with God?
2. Confession and Repentance: How does David incorporate confession in his prayers, especially in Psalm 51? Why is this significant for our own prayer life?
3. Seeking God: What does Psalm 63:1 reveal about David’s desire for God? How does our longing for God compare?
4. God’s Character: In Psalm 86:5, what does David say about God’s character? How does this impact our trust in Him during prayer?
5. One Thing: In Psalm 27:4, how does David’s focus on one thing reflect his priorities in prayer? What is the “one thing” that you seek?

Cross-References

• 1 Samuel 30:6 – David strengthens himself in the Lord.
• 2 Samuel 22:7 – David calls on the Lord in distress.
• Psalm 5:1-3 – Morning prayers and the importance of seeking God early.
• Philippians 4:6-7 – The New Testament perspective on prayer and anxiety.

Personal Application Challenges

1. Writing a Prayer Journal: Start a prayer journal to reflect your prayers along with the emotions you express, similar to David’s Psalms.
2. Daily Prayer Time: Commit to a specific time each day for focused prayer, incorporating adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication (ACTS).
3. Lament Practice: When faced with struggles, practice bringing your laments before God just as David did in his Psalms.
4. Thanksgiving List: Write a list of things you are grateful for and incorporate them into your prayers for a week.
5. Seeking the Heart of God: Spend a week praying specifically for God to reveal areas of your heart that need His touch, inspired by Psalm 139:23-24.