Recently, I was teaching what the bible says concerning Baptism, especially in the Old Testament to my theology students.
I mentioned the Psalms as one of the books in the Old Testament with relevant verses. One student asked which verses in this book one could read for Baptism since the concept of baptism is mostly in the New Testament.
I was delighted to share my in-depth knowledge and gave the class a list of these verses. As a result of this class discussion, I decided to write this article about the best psalms to read for Baptism.
5 Best Psalms to read for Baptism.
Psalm 51:7-10
“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
In these verses, the psalmist pleads to God to cleanse him with His blood and create a pure heart for him. You can use this verse to pray for repentance.
Therefore, this is a great verse to read for Baptism and ask God for purification and forgiveness of your sins and also to renew your spirit.
Psalm 23
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
In this chapter, David acknowledges God as His shepherd who supplies him with all his needs and guides him as a sheep and that he is content with being guided and protected by the Lord.
You can use this verse for Baptism to welcome God in your life, accept Him to guide you like a sheep, and ask the Lord to anoint you, restore your soul, and lead you through a righteous path.
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
In this verse, the psalmist declares that God’s word brightens his path and keeps him from going astray. You can use this verse as a prayer for Baptism to describe how deeply you accept the Lord’s word as your guide through this new journey and ask God to prevent you from stumbling or following a path that is not right.
Psalm 121:1-2
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
In this chapter, David declares the Lord as his helper and appreciates God as the Creator of heaven and earth. You can use this verse to express your strong faith in the Lord.
You can use this verse as a prayer to help emphasize the unwavering comfort and support you find in God as you begin your spiritual journey through Baptism.
Psalm 139:13-16
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
In these verses, David praises God for being present in his life even before conception and appreciates Him for fearfully and wonderfully creating him.
This is an excellent baptism prayer verse to express gratitude to God for knowing and choosing you while still in your mother’s womb and to show your strong connection to the Creator.
What is a good Psalms for Christening?
According to many Christians, if you wish to select a good psalm for Christening, you can use a Bible verse like Psalm 127:3. In this verse, the psalmist describes a child as a gift from God and a reward of the womb from the Lord.
Therefore, Christians believe that you can use this verse to pray and thank the Lord for giving you the ability to give birth to a blessing and allowing you to inherit the child as a reward.
They also suggest that you can use this verse as a prayer to dedicate your child to the Lord during Christening.
How to use the Psalms to prepare for Baptism
Many Christians believe that the Psalms are an expression of gratitude, faith, spiritual cleansing, and devotion to God.
They suggest these psalms offer a spiritual roadmap and are great to help you prepare for Baptism.
Some theologians believe that if you wish to prepare for Baptism using the Psalms, you can use a Bible verse like Psalm 51.
In this verse, David asks God to cleanse and renew his soul. Christians believe that as you prepare for Baptism, you can use this verse as a prayer of repentance to plead with the Lord for spiritual cleansing, renewal, and forgiveness of your sins.
Can you use these psalms to prepare someone else for Baptism?
According to many theologians and Christians, these psalms are personal depending on your understanding of the bible and spiritual level.
They suggest that these psalms directly show how the psalmist humbled before God and personally expressed faith toward Him.
These psalms are believed to be great to read if you wish to prepare yourself for Baptism, as they can draw you closer to God, allowing Him to mold you according to His will.
However, Christians suggest that these psalms can be powerful in preparing someone else for Baptism. You can use a verse like Psalm 103:1-5.
This verse describes how the psalmist expresses gratitude and praises God for His renewal and forgiveness. Christians believe you can use this verse to prepare someone else for Baptism by explaining the importance of being thankful to the Lord.
As a Christian, I have always been passionate about sharing God’s word with young people. This inspired me to pursue a Certificate in Christian Education, an Undergraduate degree in Religious Studies, and a Graduate degree in Theology. My knowledge in school and experience from dealing with the youth made me an expert at discussing Christian-related topics. I feel privileged working as the Coordinator of the Christian Youth Ministry at Christian Faith Guide. You can read more about me on the about us page.