Praying Psalm 23 for Direction (with Free Printables)

Are you looking for guidance and direction in your life? We can find direction in our lives by praying Psalm 23 in a powerful way. This is a favorite psalm of many that gives hope and comfort when we are in need of encouragement and strength. You can find direction in your life by praying Psalm 23 in a powerful way. Are you in the midst of a difficult situation and need an extra measure of wisdom from God’s Word?

Seek the Lord for direction by writing down prayers for guidance and strength using Psalm 23 as your guide. Since we know that the Lord is our Good Shepherd, we can trust him to lead and direct our lives.

You can also download a FREE set of Psalm 23 prayer printables at the end of this post!

Just as a sheep knows and follows the voice of the shepherd, we can rely on God’s voice–his words of wisdom, guidance, and protection.

Know that our loving Lord and Savior will NEVER lead us astray. When we follow his voice and seek guidance and direction from him, we will continually walk in his path of righteousness, and his path will lead us to his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Praying Psalm 23 for Guidance and Direction

Praying Psalm 23 is a great psalm to pray for God’s leading and direction in our lives–he truly is our Good Shepherd! Use this Scripture when you need wisdom, direction, and guidance in every area of your life. Take the Scripture and personalize it. Write it down, and then insert your own personal cares and concerns. Remember that since God is your Shepherd, he will guide you.

Follow his voice, and abide in him through his Word. Here is one way that you can pray Psalm 23 as a personal prayer for guidance. (Also, check out the FREE Psalm 23 printable at the end of this post!)

Many people are familiar with this famous Bible passage, but few people take the time to pray Psalm 23 as a prayer verse-by-verse. Let’s take a look at this beautiful Psalm. This version of Psalm 23 is from the ESV (English Standard Version).

Psalm 23: a Psalm of David

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
^​He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness^​
    for his name’s sake.

^​Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,^​
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

You can download this printable version of Psalm 23 here.

What is the Message of Psalm 23?

The beautiful, overarching message within Psalm 23 is that God is our guide. Just as a sheep is guided by the strength and wisdom of a shepherd, we can always rely on God to be our Good Shepherd. He will lead and guide us when we seek his face and follow him.

If you are in need of God’s wisdom and protection to help your navigate the difficulties of life, know that you can always trust him to guide you in the right direction. Whether you need wisdom for a big decision or just need the strength to get you through life’s mountains and valleys, God is with you–and will never abandon his flock.

Related: Take a look at how we can powerfully pray the promises of God in our lives each day!

How to Pray Psalm 23 with Power

Whenever you desire to pray the Word of God, you can use Scripture in your prayers and make it personal. To pray Psalm 23, read it silently or aloud, and then write down the psalm verse by verse in a notebook. Underneath each verse, write a prayer using some of the same words from the verse, and personalize it to your specific situation.

Let’s take a look at each section of Psalm 23 to understand what it means and how we can pray this powerful Bible passage in our lives.

Praying Psalm 23 for God’s Provision

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…

Psalm 23:1

The Hebrew word for want in this passage is chacer, which means to lack, to be without, or to have a need (source). When we reflect on the truth that God is our Shepherd, we can trust and believe that we have everything we need. According to this verse, we have no lack or need for anything.

It reminds me of the verse Ephesians 1:3,

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (NIV)

Through Christ, we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing. That means that we have the abundant riches of love, joy, peace, patience, and all the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

2 Peter 1:3 also reminds us that,

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. (ESV)

These Scriptures remind us that through the power of Christ, we have everything we need to live a godly life. This does not mean that we will never experience difficulty or hardship, but through Christ, we are more than conquerors! (Roman 8:37)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you that you are my Lord and Great Shepherd. Because of your grace, I lack nothing and have everything I need. Thank you for giving me direction in my life. I praise you that I have been blessed with so many spiritual blessings through Christ. Continue to meet my every need as I trust in you today. Amen.

Praying Psalm 23 for Peace and Rest

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.

Psalm 23:2-3

Imagine with me for a moment what it must be like to be a sheep. They may not be the smartest animals on earth, but they certainly have an easy life! Imagine lying down on the cool, green grass of a beautiful pasture, relaxing by the quiet waters of a serene pond or lake. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to soak up the sun and rest beside the calming waters of this striking scene? The imagery of beautiful green meadows in this passage of Scripture reminds us that we can rest in the loving arms of our Good Shepherd, and allow him to restore our souls.

How wonderful it is to rest in the sweet presence of God!

The imagery in this passage reminds us that we can rest in the loving arms of our Good Shepherd, and allow him to restore our souls. 

 Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Psalm 62:1

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I ask that you refresh, revive, and restore my soul as you lead me along paths of righteousness. This is for your name’s sake–that your name may be uplifted, honored and glorified. Thank you for your unfailing love that satisfies my soul. You are my loving shepherd, and I look to you for peace, rest and strength. May your loving care sustain me each day as I trust in you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Praying Psalm 23 as a Path to Righteousness

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake…

Psalm 23:3

When we follow Jesus as our Good Shepherd and guide, he will lead us to paths of righteousness. If we need direction and guidance from God, following him will lead us to the right path.

Psalm 119:105 states that God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path. For the sake of his name, we can follow God’s path of righteousness–he will never lead us astray. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for leading me on your path of righteousness. I praise you that your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Please continue to lead and guide me on your good path each day.

Praying Psalm 23 in the Midst of Hard Times

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

Psalm 23:4

Walking with God does not mean that we will always have sunny days in green pastures. Sometimes we will experience tough times and deep, dark valleys. We live in a fallen–a world riddle with pain, hurt, sickness, and death. But the comforting part of this verse is the fact that God is with us through it all. Through every mountain, valley, pasture and path–if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Prayer: Even during the times when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not fear. For you, Lord, are with me. Thy rod and thy staff will give me great comfort in the midst of my pain and suffering. You are the Lamb of God, and you conquered death and the grave once and for all. Help me through the difficult time I am currently going through, and lead me on the path of eternal life-now and forever. Amen.

Praying Psalm 23 for Protection from the Enemy

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

Psalm 23:5

I love the story of Elisha and the blinded Arameans in 2 Kings 6:8-23, because it is a clear example of how God prepared a table in the presence of the enemies of Israel. The Arameans, who were enemies of Israel, surrounded the city where Elisha was, since they were trying to capture him and go to war with the Israelites.

To Elisha’s servant, all seemed hopeless. They were surrounded by the enemy! 

But Elisha wasn’t worried at all. 

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 2 Kings 6:16

God opened the eyes of the servant to reveal that God’s army of horses and chariots of fire filled the surrounding hills. (2 Kings 6:17) God was with them! Later in the story God gave Elisha the power to strike the Aramean army with blindness.

Elisha led their enemies right to the king of Israel, but instead of destroying them, God reversed their blindness, and the Israelites prepared a great feast for them (2 Kings 6:23). After that, the Aramean stopped trying to attack Israel! (Read the entire story in 2 Kings 6:8-23.)

Since God is our Shepherd, he will thwart the plans and schemes of the enemy. During the times when we feel completely surrounded by the enemy, remember that the power of God is surrounding you on every side!

Prayer: Dear Lord, as a shepherd guides sheep with strong hands of grace and strength, I ask that you will give me your comfort and strength. Thank you that you lavishly provide me with a feast of abundance in the presence of my enemies.

I am anointed with the oil of joy–and my cup overflows! As long as I live, your mercy and goodness will follow me. I will dwell, reside, and abide in your presence forever and ever.

To God be the glory! In the name of Christ Jesus, Amen.

Praying Psalm 23 as an Overflow of Anointing

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows…

Psalm 23:5

The anointing of oil in biblical times was a common practice. Priests were anointed before serving their priestly duties (Exodus 40:15), and kings of Israel were also anointed (1 Samuel 9:16). In the New Testament, believers in Jesus were later anointed with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21).

We as believers today are also anointed and sealed with the Holy Spirit. Through Christ we can trust the power of the Holy Spirit to move mightily in our lives!

Prayer: Lord, you have filled me with abundant joy and peace, and my heart overflows with your love! Thank you that I am anointed with the oil of gladness and filled with your grace and love. May the overflow of your Holy Spirit run over into every area of my life.

Thank you that I am filled with your grace and love, and may the overflow of your Holy Spirit run over into every area of my life. May others know that I am filled to the brim with your love.

Praying Psalm 23 with a Heart of Gratitude

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell  in the house of the Lord forever.

Praise God that his goodness and mercy will never leave us! We will experience mountains and valleys, good days, and bad days. There will be days when we feel like the enemy is surrounding us–but all in all, God’s goodness and mercy will be with us forever.

Won’t it be a glorious day when we will dwell with the Lord forever? Until that day, remember that God is your Shepherd, and that he is with you always!

Prayer: Lord, thank you that your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life! Whether I am in a dark valley or on a mountaintop of victory, I am filled with good things from the table of your abundance. With a humble heart of gratitude, I give you praise and thanksgiving.

Whether I am in a dark valley or on a mountaintop of victory, I am forever surrounded by your goodness and mercy.

Thank you that you have prepared a special place for me in heaven. You have said in your Word that you will go to prepare a place for me (John 14:3). I praise you that one day I will see you face to face, and I will spend eternity with you forever. Amen.

A Psalm 23 Prayer (and FREE Printable)

Now that we have taken the time to better understand the beautiful character of God through Psalm 23, here is a final prayer incorporating all six verses into one prayer.

Lord, I praise you for being my shepherd, and because of your grace, I lack nothing. Lead me beside quiet waters and green pastures, as I trust in you each day. Refresh, revive, and restore my soul as you lead me along paths of righteousness.

This is for your name’s sake–that your name may be uplifted, honored and glorified. Even during the times when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not fear. 

You, the Good Shepherd, are with me. You are the Lamb of God, and you conquered death and the grave once and for all! Your rod and staff give me comfort. You lavishly provide me with a feast of abundance in the presence of my enemies.

I am anointed with the oil of joy–and my cup overflows. As long as I live, your mercy and goodness will follow me. I will dwell, reside, and abide in your presence forever and ever. To God be the glory! Amen.

Here is a printable version of this prayer based on Psalm 23. Feel free to download it by clicking on the highlighted link below! There are also blank prayer pages where you can write your own prayer based on Psalm 23. Get the free printables below!

Praying for Guidance Using Psalm 23 Prayer Pages

More Scriptures on Praying for Guidance and Wisdom

Here are other Scriptures you can turn into prayers for guidance in your life as you seek the Lord as your Shepherd each day:

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (John 16:13)

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:5)

Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. (Psalm 31:3)

For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. (Psalm 48:14)

You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. (Psalm 73:24)

Blessings to you as you continue to trust the Lord each day! You can also download a set of free Bible journaling printables based on Psalm 23 by going to this post.

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