David Prayed to God: List of Prayers Said by David

21 Prayers that David Prayed. The bold words indicate prayer.
Let’s get a glimpse into David’s prayer life!

3 Prayers David Prayed in 1 Samuel

In 1 Samuel 23:1-5 below, David prayed and asked God if he should attack the Philistines. This is an example of someone going to God when they are wondering, “What should I do?” David ultimately saved Keilah because he called upon the Lord, then took action.

When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,” he inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”

Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.”

So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah.
In 1 Samuel 23:7-14 below, King Saul decides to go after David, who is in the town of Keilah. When David hears what Saul is planning, he asks God if the people of Keilah will hand him over and if Saul is going to come down.

David had saved Keilah, so it must’ve been disappointing to hear that they were going to hand him over. Ungratefulness is something we need to be constantly checking our hearts for…

Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”

And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”

David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him?

Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will.” Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?”

And the Lord said, “They will.” So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.

David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.
In 1 Samuel 30:1-8 below, David asks the Lord if he should go after a raiding party and if he will overtake them. This is yet another example of David immediately going to God when there is a decision that needs to be made.

David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old.

They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.

So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David’s two wives had been captured – Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”

“Pursue them,” He answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”

5 Prayers David Prayed in 2 Samuel

In 2 Samuel 2:1-2 below, David asks the Lord where he should go. At those times when we’re wondering if we should do something, it is definitely in our best interest to check with God first.

In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered.

So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
In 2 Samuel 5:17-25 below, the Philistines immediately go looking for David after they hear he was crowned king. David asks God if he should attack them and if they will be delivered into his hands…

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.

Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.” So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them.

He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim. The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees.

As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.”

So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
In 2 Samuel 7:18-29 below, David prayed a Prayer of Thankfulness after God made a covenant vow to him.

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far?

And as if this were not enough in Your sight, Sovereign Lord, You have also spoken about the future of the house of Your servant – and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human!

“What more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, Sovereign Lord. For the sake of Your word and according to Your will, You have done this great thing and made it known to Your servant.

“How great You are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like You, and there is no God but You, as we have heard with our own ears.

And who is like Your people Israel – the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?

You have established Your people Israel as Your very own forever, and You, Lord, have become their God. “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise You have made concerning Your servant and his house.

Do as You promised, so that Your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of Your servant David will be established in Your sight.

“Lord Almighty, God of Israel, You have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You. Sovereign Lord, You are God!

Your covenant is trustworthy, and You have promised these good things to Your servant.

Now be pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever in Your sight; for You, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with Your blessing the house of Your servant will be blessed forever.”
In 2 Samuel 12:13-25 below, the Lord sends the prophet Nathan to David. Nathan rebukes David because David hadn’t been sorry for the sins he committed against Bathsheba and her husband Uriah.

Nathan tells David that his son will die because David’s actions showed complete disrespect for the Lord. David asks God to spare his dying son…

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.

But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.” After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill.

David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.

On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him.

How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.” David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked.

“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.” Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped.

Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way?

While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!” He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept.

I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon.

The Lord loved him; and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.
In 2 Samuel 15:30-37 below, David prays that God will turn Ahithophel’s advice into stupidity. We could say that David prayed against Ahithophel. Before this, Absalom had conspired against David. David hears that Israel’s people are on Absalom’s side. David and his whole household take off at once to escape Absalom…

But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up.

Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden to me.

But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice.

Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace. Their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them.

Send them to me with anything you hear.” So Hushai, David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city.

2 Prayers David Prayed in 1 Chronicles

In 1 Chronicles 21:8-17 below, David prays after feeling guilty for taking a census of Israel. 1 Chronicles 21:1 says that Satan rose up against Israel and encouraged David to take a census.

It appears that Satan tempted David, and David gave into the temptation. As punishment, the Lord gives David three options to pick from, and David chooses three days of plague in the land.

As the plague is happening, David prays for the punishment to be on him and his family, not on the people of Israel. For a deeper look into why God was angry that David did a census, see the article here: GotQuestions.org.

Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg You, take away the guilt of Your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”

The Lord said to Gad, David’s seer, “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for Me to carry out against you.’”

So Gad went to David and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Take your choice: three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord – days of plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord ravaging every part of Israel.’

Now then, decide how I should answer the one who sent me.” David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead. And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem.

But as the angel was doing so, the Lord saw it and relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.”

The angel of the Lord was then standing at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand extended over Jerusalem.

Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown. David said to God, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd, have sinned and done wrong.

These are but sheep. What have they done? Lord my God, let Your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on Your people.”
In 1 Chronicles 29:10-19 below, the people of Israel gave gifts to build the temple for God. After that, David prayed a Prayer of Praise.

David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,

“Praise be to You, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.

Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give You thanks, and praise Your glorious name.

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand.

We are foreigners and strangers in Your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.

Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building You a temple for Your Holy Name comes from Your hand, and all of it belongs to You.

I know, my God, that You test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent.

And now I have seen with joy how willingly Your people who are here have given to You.

Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of Your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to You.

And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep Your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.”

11 Prayers David Prayed in Psalms

In Psalm 4:1, 6-8 below, David prayed about The Security of the Faithful:

“Answer me when I call to You, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?” Let the light of Your face shine on us. Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound.

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
In Psalm 17:1-15 below, David prayed a Prayer with Trust in Ultimate Salvation:

“Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer – it does not rise from deceitful lips. Let my vindication come from You; may Your eyes see what is right.

Though You probe my heart, though You examine me at night and test me, You will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed.

Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what Your lips have commanded. My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not stumbled.

I call on You, my God, for You will answer me; turn Your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of Your great love, You who save by Your right hand those who take refuge in You from their foes.

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.

They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover. Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with Your sword rescue me from the wicked.

By Your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life.

May what You have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones.

As for me, I will be vindicated and will see Your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing Your likeness.”
Psalm 26:1-12 below, David prayed a Prayer for Heavenly Inspection and Redemption.

“Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.

Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.

I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites. I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.

I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds.

Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells.

Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with those who are bloodthirsty, in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.

I lead a blameless life; deliver me and be merciful to me. My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.“
Psalm 51:1-19 below, David prayed a remorseful prayer (this was after he committed adultery with Bathsheba).

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight; so You are right in Your verdict and justified when You judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet You desired faithfulness even in the womb; You taught me wisdom in that secret place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, so that sinners will turn back to You.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, You who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare Your praise.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise.

May it please You to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then You will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.”
In Psalm 55:1-23 below, David prayed as he was hiding in the cave from Saul:

“Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me.

My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger.

My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.

I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”

Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it.

Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets. If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide.

But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.

Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the realm of the dead, for evil finds lodging among them. As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me.

Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.

God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change – he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God. My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.

His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

But You, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in You.”
In Psalm 61:1-8 below, David prayed about the Promise of God’s Everlasting Protection:

“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to You, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.

For You, God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name. Increase the days of the king’s life, his years for many generations.

May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint Your love and faithfulness to protect him. Then I will ever sing in praise of Your name and fulfill my vows day after day.”
In Psalm 72:1-20 below, David prayed for his son Solomon as he became the next king. The following was David’s prayer for Solomon on this momentous occasion:

“Endow the king with Your justice, O God, the royal son with Your righteousness. May he judge Your people in righteousness, Your afflicted ones with justice.

May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.

May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.

In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more. May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.

May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust. May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts.

May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him. For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.

He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. Long may he live!

May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long. May grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway.

May the crops flourish like Lebanon and thrive like the grass of the field. May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun.

Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed. Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.

Praise be to His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.” This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.
In Psalm 86:1-17 below, David prayed a Prayer for Grace with Reflection on the Goodness of the Lord.

“Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to You; save Your servant who trusts in You. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to You all day long.

Bring joy to Your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in You. You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to You. Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.

When I am in distress, I call to You, because You answer me. Among the gods there is none like You, Lord; no deeds can compare with Yours.

All the nations You have made will come and worship before You, Lord; they will bring glory to Your name. For You are great and do marvelous deeds; You alone are God.

Teach me Your way, Lord, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name. I will praise You, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever.

For great is Your love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.

Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God; ruthless people are trying to kill me – they have no regard for You.

But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Turn to me and have mercy on me; show Your strength in behalf of Your servant; save me, because I serve You just as my mother did.

Give me a sign of Your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.”
In Psalm 139:1-24 below, David prayed about God’s Perfect Understanding of Man:

“You have searched me, Lord, and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue You, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and You lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You.

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are Your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand – when I awake, I am still with You. If only You, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, You who are bloodthirsty!

They speak of You with evil intent; Your adversaries misuse Your name. Do I not hate those who hate You, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against You?

I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
In Psalm 142:1-7 below, David prayed when he was in the cave hiding from Saul…

“I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who watch over my way.

In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me. Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.

I cry to You, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.

Set me free from my prison, that I may praise Your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of Your goodness to me.”
In Psalm 143:1-12 below, David prayed A Solemn Plea for Counsel and Deliverance:

“Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in Your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before You.

The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.

I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all Your works and consider what Your hands have done. I spread out my hands to You; I thirst for You like a parched land. Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails.

Do not hide Your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You.

Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in You.

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For Your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in Your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

In Your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am Your servant.”

How Many Times a Day Did David Pray?

In #5 under the “11 Prayers David Prayed in Psalms ” section above, it says, “Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.” This tells us that David prayed 3 times a day. Some people think that he prayed 7 times a day because the verse found in Psalm 119:164 says, “Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous laws.” David had a vow of praise to the Lord, which explains this verse.

Conclusion

David prayed for many things – for help, strength, wisdom, deliverance, mercy, protection, forgiveness, etc. He prayed at many times – when he felt guilt because of sin, when he was hiding in the cave from Saul, before battle, before fighting Goliath, etc.

So how do you pray like David? How did David pray? We see that he was constantly going to God for direction. We also see that he would seek God’s will right away.

This was a wise thing to do. This is a characteristic of David that stands out because we don’t see other Bible characters doing the same thing.

I wonder if maybe this is at least part of the reason that God called David a man after His own heart…

I hope and pray to become more like David – to constantly go to God, then patiently wait for the answer. We miss out on blessings when we choose not to do this.

Challenge for You and Me

Who do you turn to first when you have a question or need help? If you don’t always go to God first, why not start doing that right now, today?

I’d love to hear from you! Please leave a question or comment at the bottom of the page.
Thank you, and it is my prayer that you have a very blessed day! ❤