4 Psalms to Pray When You Need God’s Help

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 nkjv).

The door is unlocked for you; it’s been thrown wide open! You can come as often as you want, and you can come as you are. You don’t need an appointment to walk straight to the throne of grace when you need help.

When you’re worn out or stressed out or burnt out or just plain out of options, you can run into the throne room of grace and crawl up into the lap of your Abba Father.

You don’t have to tiptoe or tremble. You don’t have to wonder if you are good enough to be there, because you don’t have to be. Jesus is. In Christ, you are just as welcome to come to God’s Throne as God’s only begotten son.

The One who sits on the throne of grace is the King of kings – and He is your Father. You can talk to Him, sit with Him, tell Him your hurts and find grace to help in your time of need.

God’s help is as near as our cry. But, let’s face it. We can get all twisted up trying to figure out how to pray or what to say when we get to that throne of grace! When we’re at the bottom of ourselves, we often don’t know how to put our requests, our needs, and our heartaches into words. 

Sometimes we just stumble into the throne room mumbling, “help Lord, help!”

H.E.L.P

Oh my friend, the same God who gives you an open invitation to His throne of grace when you need help is the same God who gives you the words to say when you just can’t find any of your own. He gives you Psalms so you can find ways to express what your heart feels. 

So, when you need help, step into – or stumble into the throne room of grace and use these four Scriptures as the substance of your prayer.

Want to pray through more Psalms, for every season of life? Download your FREE personal, printable guide on praying through the Psalms.

H - “Hear me lord and answer me for I am poor and needy.” Psalm 86:1

Beginning with a plea for help is the way to let God know you need Him. And, as you do, you can just lay it all out… I am poor and needy! I am worn out. I am scared. I am totally confused. The Psalmists didn’t hold back when they needed help or protection or deliverance and neither should you. Whatever your need is, tell God. Acknowledge that your soul is needy for God’s strength and your spirit is poor, humbled, and contrite before Him. He hears you and He will help. 

E - “Establish my steps in your word.” Psalm 119:133

When you ask God to establish your steps like the Psalmist did, you are asking Him to direct you – to be the captain of the ship as you cross stormy seas! You are asking Him to show you how to stand firm when the wind blows strong and how to run the course He has laid out for you. Tell God you need His direction and ask Him to steady you and keep you walking within the safety of His Word. He will help you stand on His Word and walk by faith.

L - “Let your compassion quickly meet our needs because we are on the brink of despair.”  Psalm 79:8

The Psalmist was asking - pleading with God not to hold their past against them but instead, lavish them with His compassion because they were on the edge of despair. Ever felt like that?  Sometimes when we need God’s help it’s because we have blown it and we are having to eat the bitter fruit from the sinful seeds we have sown. But, God is compassionate and we can ask Him, even though we may not deserve it, to show us mercy and grace in spite of our past choices. If you are on the “brink of despair” because of circumstances that may have roots in your past, ask God to let His compassion lift you from that low place. God’s compassion will comfort and strengthen you

P - “Protect me God because I take refuge in You. I say to the Lord, You are my Lord, apart from You I have nothing good.” Psalm 16:1

Often when we run to God for help, it’s because our circumstances or heartache have made us feel vulnerable. And when we feel that way, we just want a refuge - we need to be protected. We need spiritual protection from the darts of the enemy; we often need physical protection from danger. You may need protection from worry or stress or unbelief.  God promises His protection to those who take refuge in Him. Pray along with the Psalmist and adopt His humble spirit. Tell God that outside of Him, you have nothing good to offer or lean on.  You don’t need to take refuge in your own abilities or strength, you take refuge in Him and He will protect and help you when you need it most. 

If you need some grace today, come to His throne. If you need mercy or help, walk through the “door,” Jesus Himself, to your Father God and receive the help you need.

God shows His love to us through the book of Psalms, it’s the way our good shepherd leads us.  Yet, God loves us through every book of the Bible. So, if you want to discover the other ways God loves you through Scripture, check out 66 Ways God Loves You. www.66WaysBook.org

Jennifer Rothschild is a nationally known speaker and author of 13 books, including bestsellers Lessons I Learned in the Dark, Self Talk, Soul Talk and her latest release,66 Ways God Loves You. She’s been featured on Good Morning America, The Dr. Phil Show, The Learning Channel, Women of Faith and Extraordinary Women. She is the founder of Fresh Grounded Faith events and womensministry.net. She and her husband, whom she affectionately calls “her very own Dr. Phil,” have two sons and a lovely daughter-in-law. She is a C.S. Lewis junkie who enjoys strong coffee, dark chocolate, great conversation, international travel and audio books. Jennifer became blind at age fifteen and now helps others live beyond limits.

Publication date: October 6, 2016

Image courtesy: Unsplash.com

This article is part of our Prayer resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.

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