One of the best loved books of the Bible is Psalms. It is a marvelous compilation of a variety of types of prayers to God. Have you ever wanted to write your own “prayer letter” to God (styled after the Psalms) but were not quite sure what to say or how to start? Well, if you can answer “why” you want to write a psalm you are well on the way to knowing “how” to write it. Hopefully this article will help you begin to experience the intimacy you can have with the Lord through the pouring out of your heart to Him in your own psalms.

Why write psalms?

Why write a psalm? The Lord loves it not only when we praise Him, but also when we talk to Him as a friend. However, sometimes we are not sure how to have that type of a real relationship with God. Writing a psalm is a lot like writing to a pen pal where you share of yourself with them. Your pen pal is interested in you sharing personal things about yourself and you being interested in knowing them. When you write psalms to God (or, for that matter, pray) it should be with a similar goal of building a two way friendship. It is suppose to be a relationship where you can be open and honest with your feelings (see Feelings Chart at Appendix F to Striving For Absolute Purity, available for free at our Bookstore).

Who are you writing to?

It is important to know to whom you are writing. If you scribbled a note to pass to a friend it would be different than if you wrote a letter to the President of the United States. The way you write a psalm will greatly depend upon who you say God is? Is He a big father figure? The sovereign king of the universe? Your best friend? (See list below.)

We need to be careful not to think too narrowly about who God is because that will limit what we think we can or should say to Him. If we focus on only one or two of His characteristics, like love or mercy, we miss out on so much of God. In fact, God is also good, holy, just, beautiful, perfect, life, supreme, all knowing, all powerful, unchanging, wise, jealous, faithful, true, kind and patient. (See list below.) The more you get to know God, the more you can richly communicate and have a fulfilling relationship with Him.

How to write your psalm to God

The first few words in writing a psalm can be the hardest. Before you begin writing, take a quiet moment to reflect and pray. Ask God to still your heart and mind. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in what to write. Is your heart filled with praise or are you struggling with something and in need of wisdom or grace? The topic you write about in your psalm should be in line with the present condition of your heart. Of the 150 Psalms of the Bible, only about one half are primarily praise or thanksgiving oriented. Many others are pleas for mercy, cries for help, offers of repentance, asking for strength, or seeking wisdom. It is clear that the Psalms in the Bible were an expression of what was going in the person’s heart at the time they were written. Similarly, when you write a psalm, start with how you are feeling right now. Don’t think you must write a praise psalm every time. If you are angry, it might be phony to try to write a beautiful love song to God. Instead, cry out to Him. Tell God you are angry or hurt. Seek His mercy, grace or love. Ask questions. Make statements. Be real!

No matter how many psalms you write, each time wait upon God for guidance as to what to say. Close your eyes and pray. Search your heart and ask God to speak to you. Then pick up your pen and write down a few words. Ask yourself: “How do I feel?” “What am I thinking?” “What are my attitudes?” “What circumstances am I facing?” For instance, if God has answered a prayer or blessed a loved one greatly, be ready to praise Him. Listen for God. Ask Him to guide your words. A psalm may begin like this: “God, you are so good” or “Your name is beautiful.” Then stop and listen to God. Ask Him to fill your heart. Seek to share your inner most feelings. Do not become concerned about whether the next set of words rhyme or sound eloquent.

Don’t try to force things or to write like someone else. Be yourself and speak from your heart. The style of writing is not important. God is not holding a contest to see who can string together the fanciest words. But rather, He wants your heart. He wants you to be eager to meet with Him in prayer, and to open your life to Him as a friend. A psalm can be a great way to tell God you love Him as well as a way of crying out to Him for help.

After writing a few lines, read and reread what you wrote. You will rarely need to rewrite or edit what was written. The reason to reread the earlier verses is that it helps you stay focused and it keeps your heart on track. A psalm of about 30 to 40 lines can take 15 or 20 minutes to write, but you don’t have to spend that much time. A few minutes is all the time you need to write a God glorifying psalm. Get started and stay with it!

Names of God.

     God the Father

Abba Father - Rom. 8:15
Ancient of Days - Dan. 7:9, 13
Creator - Isa. 27:11
Father - Luke 11:2
Father of the Heavenly Lights - James 1:17
God Almighty - Gen. 17:1-2
God Most High - Gen. 14:18-22
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - Exod. 3:6
God of Heaven and Earth - Ezra 1:2, 5:11
God of Hope - Rom. 15:13
God our Father - Eph. 1:2
Holy One - Isa. 43:15
Judge of the Earth - Psa. 94:2
King - Isa. 43:15
King of Glory - Psa. 24:7-10
King of Heaven - Dan. 4:37
Living God - Rom. 9:26
Lord of All the Earth - Josh. 3:11
Righteous Father - John 17:25
The God of All Comfort - 2 Cor. 1:3
The Great and Awesome God - Neh. 1:5
The Lord is My Banner - Exod. 17:15
The Lord our Maker - Psa. 95:6
The Lord Who Heals - Exod. 15:26

     God the Son

Advocate - Job 16:19; 1 John 2:1
Alpha and Omega - Rev. 1:8
Author and Perfecter - Heb. 12:2
Blessed and Only Ruler - Heb. 2:10
Bread of God - John 6:33
Bread of Life - John 6:35
Bridegroom - Matt. 25:1-10
Chosen One - Isa. 41:1
Christ Jesus Our Lord - 2 Tim. 1:2
Cornerstone - 1 Pet. 2:6
Deliverer - Rom. 11:26
Faithful and True - Rev. 19:11
Foundation - 1 Cor. 3:11
Fountain - Zech. 13:1
Friend - Matt. 11:19
Gate - John 10:7-9
Good Shepherd - John 10:11, 14
High Priest - Heb. 3:1
Holy One - Acts 2:27
Horn of Salvation - Luke 1:69
I Am - John 8:58
Immanuel - Matt. 1:23
King of Kings - 1 Tim. 6:14
Lamb of God - John 1:36
Light of the World - John 8:12
Lord of Lords - 1 Tim. 6:15
Master - Matt. 23:8
Mediator - 1 Tim. 2:5
Messiah - John 1:41
Mighty God - Isa. 9:6
One and Only - John 1:14
Our Righteousness - 1 Cor. 1:30
Prince of Peace - Isa. 9:6
Redeemer - Isa. 44:24
Rock - 1 Cor. 10:4
Ruler - Matt. 2:6
Savior - Luke 2:11
Son of Man - Matt. 8:20
Sure Foundation - Isa. 28:16
Teacher - John 13:14
The Almighty - Rev. 1:8
The Beginning - Col. 1:18
The Way - John 14:6
True God - 1 John 5:20
Truth - John 14:6
Wonderful Counselor - Isa. 9:6
Word of God - Rev. 19:13

    God the Holy Spirit

Breath of the Almighty - Job 32:8
Counselor - John 14:16
Deposit - Eph. 1:13-14
Eternal Spirit - Heb. 9:14
Holy Sprit of God - Eph. 4:30
Living Water - John 7:38-39
Promise of the Father - Acts 1:4
Seal - Eph. 4:30
Spirit of Faith - 1 Cor. 12:9
Spirit of Fire - Isa. 4:4
Spirit of God - Gen. 1:2
Spirit of Judgment - Isa. 4:4
Spirit of Knowledge - Isa. 11:2
Spirit of Life - Rom. 8:2
Spirit of Power - Isa. 11:2
Spirit of Promise - Eph. 1:13
Spirit of Truth - John 14:17
Spirit of Understanding - Isa. 11:2
Spirit of Wisdom - Isa. 11:2
Spirit Who Intercedes for Us - Rom. 8:26-27
Spirit Who Searches All Things - 1 Cor. 2:10

Attributes of God.

     God is:

Love (unfailing love) - Exod. 15:13, Psa. 13:5-6, 52:8, 1 John 4:7-16, Rom. 8:38-39, Eph. 3:17-19, 5:1-2
Good - 2 Chron. 7:3, Psa. 119:68, 135:3, 145:9, Mark 10:18
Faithful - Deut. 7:9, Psa. 18:25, 33:4, 111:7, 145:13, 1 John 1:9, Heb. 10:23, 1 Pet. 4:19, 1 Cor. 1:9, 1 Thes. 5:24, 2 Thes. 3:3
Merciful - Deut. 4:31, Jer. 3:12, 2 Sam. 24:14, Neh. 9:31, Dan. 9:9, 2 Cor. 4:1, Rom. 11:31, 21:1, Eph. 2:4, Luke 6:36
Kind - 2 Sam. 22:51, Isa. 54:8, Jer. 9:24, Psa. 18:50, Luke 6:25, Rom. 2:4, 11:22
Patient (forbearing/long-suffering) - Jer. 15:15, Neh. 9:17, Psa. 145:8, 1 Tim. 1:16, Rom. 3:25, 2 Pet. 3:15
Compassionate - Exod. 22:27, 34:6, Neh. 9:17, Psa. 86:15, 103:8, 111:4, Joel 2:13
Just - Deut. 32:4, Job 37:23, Psa. 99:4, Luke 18:7-8, 2 Thes. 1:5, Rev. 16:7
Righteous - Isa. 51:6, Jer. 9:24, 23:6, Judges 5:11, Ez. 9:15, Neh. 9:8, Psa. 4:1, 7:9, 89:14, 97:12, 116:6, 119:137, 129:4, 145:17
Jealous (jealous for our love) - Exod. 34:14, Deut. 4:24, Zech. 8:2, 2 Cor. 11:2
Gracious (grace) - Josh. 24:19, Isa. 26:10, Neh. 9:17, Exod. 34:6-7, Psa. 86:15, 108:8, 111:4, 116:5, 145:8, Titus 3:5-7, Eph. 2:8
Holy - Isa. 6:3, 57:15, Psa. 30:4, 77:13, 99:3, 9, Matt. 1:35, John 17:11, Rom. 7:12, 1 Pet. 1:15-16, Rev. 4:8
Wise (wisdom) - Isa. 28:29, Jer. 10:12, 1 Cor. 1:30, Col. 2:2-3
Truthful (veracity/truth) - Num. 23:19, Isa. 45:19, Psa. 31:5, John 3:33, 14:6

Almighty - Gen. 17:1, 35:11, Psa. 24:10, 46:7, 68:14, 80:7, 14, 84:1, 89:9, 2 Cor. 6:18, James 5:4
Pure - 2 Sam. 22:27, Psa. 18:26, 1 John 3:3
Perfect/Blameless - 2 Sam. 22:26, 31, Psa. 18:25, 30, 19:7, Deut. 32:4, Matt. 5:48, Gentle - Matt. 11:29, 21:5
Forgiving - Neh. 9:17, Num. 14:18, Psa. 86:5, 99:8
Wrathful (avenging evil) - Nahum 1:2, Psa. 7:11, Rom. 1:18, 5:9, 9:22
Independent (self-existing/self-sufficient) - Psa. 115:3, John 5:26, Rom. 11:35-36
Infinite (from everlasting to everlasting/beyond measure) - Psa. 33:11, 41:13, 90:1-2, Heb. 1:8-12
Eternal - Gen. 21:33, Neh. 9:5-6, Deut. 33:27, Psa. 93:2, John 8:58, Rev. 1:8
Supreme (pre-eminent) - Exod. 15:1, 11, 18, Psa. 115:3, Col. 1:15-19
Transcendent/Incomprehensible (beyond full description or understanding) - Job 36:26, 37:23, Psa. 104:1-4, Isa. 36:26, 40:18-26, Rom. 11:33-34., 1 Tim. 6:15-16
Majestic - Exod. 15:6-7, 11, 1 Chron. 29:11, Job 37:22, Psa. 8:1, 9, 93:1, Jude 25
Sovereign - Isa. 46:10, Dan. 4:35, Psa. 135:6, Eph. 1:11, Acts 4:24
Immutable (unchanging) - Mal. 3:6, Psa. 102:27, James 1:17, Heb. 6:17, 13:8
Omnipotent (all-powerful/infinite power) - Gen. 18:14, 1 Sam. 2:6-7, Psa. 18:13-15, Matt. 19:26
Omnipresent (everywhere) - Jer. 23:23-24, 2 Chron. 2:6, Psa. 139:7-16, Acts 17:27-28
Omniscient (all knowing/infinite knowledge) - 1 Kings 8:39, Psa. 139:1-6, Prov. 3:19-20, 1 Cor. 2:10
Immortal (not created, but ever existing) - Rom. 1:23, 1 Tim. 1:17, 6:15