Prayer Starter - Monday, February 16, 2026 Psalm 31 Blessed are the Forgiven

Read Psalm 31-32.  

These two psalms take us from the "distressed" to the "forgiven."   When you have time, read the entire psalm, but here is a glimpse from chapter 31:

 "Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;

my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
    my soul and body with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish
    and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
    and my bones grow weak.  (Vs 9 & 10).

But I trust in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love. (Vs 14-16).

Here is a prayer based on Psalm 32. You can read the Psalm after the prayer.

Lord,
how blessed I am when You forgive my sin and cover my failures with Your mercy. Thank You for not holding my past against me and for giving my heart a fresh start. When I kept silent, my spirit grew weary, but when I turned to You and confessed, You met me with grace and relief.

Help me to live honestly before You each day. Teach me Your ways and guide my steps. When I am tempted to go my own way, gently lead me back to Your path. Be my hiding place in times of trouble and surround me with Your faithful love.

Fill my heart with joy in Your forgiveness and steady my life with Your wisdom. I trust in Your mercy and rejoice in Your goodness.
In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

And then Chapter 32:1-11

Blessed is the one

    whose transgressions are forgiven,

    whose sins are covered.

 

Blessed is the one

    whose sin the Lord does not count against them

    and in whose spirit is no deceit.

 

When I kept silent,

    my bones wasted away

    through my groaning all day long.

For day and night

    your hand was heavy on me;

my strength was sapped

    as in the heat of summer.[d]

 

Then I acknowledged my sin to you

    and did not cover up my iniquity.

I said, “I will confess

    my transgressions to the Lord.”

And you forgave

    the guilt of my sin.

 

Therefore let all the faithful pray to you

    while you may be found;

surely the rising of the mighty waters

    will not reach them.

 

You are my hiding place;

    you will protect me from trouble

    and surround me with songs of deliverance.

 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Do not be like the horse or the mule,

    which have no understanding

but must be controlled by bit and bridle

    or they will not come to you.

 

Many are the woes of the wicked,

    but the Lord’s unfailing love

    surrounds the one who trusts in him.

 

Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;

    sing, all you who are upright in heart!