Praying Through the Psalms With Compassion

Families who live in poverty face incredible challenges. They are more susceptible to natural disasters like flooding. They are also more likely to experience food insecurity, poor housing and limited access to health care. And the world’s poorest children are twice as likely to die before their fifth birthday as the richest children.

Children and families living in poverty around the world need our prayers — and Psalms is a great place to start.

The book of Psalms is a collection of 150 poems that can be sung as songs or prayed as prayers. Organized into 117 chapters, there are psalms for nearly every emotion, from praise and thanksgiving to pain and uncertainty.

Below you’ll find a collection of prayers from the Psalms along with invitations to pray specifically for issues related to life in poverty. We hope these beautiful words from Scripture will be a blessing to you as your prayers will be a blessing to people in need around the world.

Pray that God will hear the cries of the poor, wherever they live. Pray that, in his goodness, he will provide for their needs and offer comfort where there is pain and loss.

“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.”
— Psalm 86:1–4, NIV

Pray for children and families who live in areas vulnerable to natural disasters. Pray that God will protect them from harm.

“Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the miry depths,
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,
looking for my God.”
— Psalm 69:1–3, NIV

Pray that children and families around the world will continue to seek God and his plan and purpose for their lives.

“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.”
— Psalm 17:6–9, NIV

Pray that God will protect people living in poverty from sickness and disease. Pray that when they get sick, they will have access to medical care.

“But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.”
— Psalm 3:3–6, NIV

Pray that all children around the world will have access to education, as it is one of the most effective ways to break generational cycles of poverty.

“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.”
— Psalm 32: 8–10, NIV

Pray that children and families who receive assistance from Compassion will know the fullness of God’s love for them.

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
— Psalm 100:1–5, NIV

Pray for Compassion’s church partners, who work tirelessly to care for and share the love of God with young people in their communities. Pray that they will effectively teach the gospel message to the next generation.

“My people, hear my teaching;
listen to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth with a parable;
I will utter hidden things, things from of old —
things we have heard and known,
things our ancestors have told us.
We will not hide them from their descendants;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done.”
— Psalm 78:1–4, NIV

Pray that children and families living in poverty will find peace and comfort in God’s goodness. Pray they will have faith and find refuge in him.

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High…
The Lord reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
He rules the world in righteousness
and judges the peoples with equity.
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”
— Psalm 9:1–2, 7–10, NIV

Pray for a spirit of compassion to grow in more people around the world, that they will develop a heart to help the poor and oppressed.

“Praise the Lord.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.
Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.”
— Psalm 112:1–5, NIV

Thank you for praying through the Psalms with Compassion! Your prayers are a powerful way you can help children and families in poverty. They’re grateful to you for lifting up their needs to the Lord!