42 Psalm Verses for Your Marathon

Posted On September 20, 2010

I am now reading the book God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life’s Little Detours by Regina Brett.  One of the lessons she shared is #38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

Psalms is a book in the Bible that contains 150 sacred poems, which are believed to be intended for singing.  It covers a lot of emotions like rejoicing, thanksgiving, lament, and wisdom.  Whatever you feel right now, good or bad, just open the Book of Psalms.  In just 3-5 chapters, I can assure you that there will be one verse that you can relate with and inspire you.

I reread some of my favorite Psalms:  Psalms 19, 23, 42, 51, and 92.  These five verses alone convey emotions and inspiration.

This inspired me to list 42 verses from the Book of Psalms that you can reflect on when running a marathon.  That is one verse for every kilometer.  I hope that it each verse will strength you from start to finish.  There are a lot of other verses in the Bible for runners.  But the Book of Psalms looks complete in itself.

As I list them down, I would recall my own marathon experience during the Hong Kong Marathon.  I would recall it kilometer by kilometer and ask myself what verse could have helped me at this point to keep myself running and finish the finish line.  Maybe you can follow the same order that I made below.

You can memorize them from KM1 to KM42.  Or you can create your own pace band and carry these verses along.

All verses are in NIV.

Before the greatest run of your life

Here are verses you can reflect on at the starting line.  This verses will give you reassurance that God will be with you all through out.

• In you, LORD my God, I put my trust. Psalms 25:1

• Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure. Because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.  Psalms 16:9-10

• Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalms 119:105

• Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Psalms 51:10

 

Start Strong and Rejoice

Here are verse at the start of the marathon.  I find them great for the first 10 kilometers.  This will surely take away your anxiety and instead let you set your eyes upon God.  Take a look at the road, the skies, the trees, and the runners.  These are some of the evidence that He is with you in the run.  Rejoice.

Kilometer 1  LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalms 8:9

Kilometer 2  The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Psalms 19:1

Kilometer 3  The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  Psalms 23:1

Kilometer 4  The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? Psalms 27:1

Kilometer 5  The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. Psalms 118:24

Kilometer 6 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalms 23:5

Kilometer 7 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. Psalms 16:5

Kilometer 8  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  Psalms 139:14

Kilometer 9  You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. Psalms 139:1

Kilometer 10  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure. Psalms 16:9

Build Trust

The next 10 kilometers will still be a breeze.  You’ve been running 21Ks and this run is still familiar.  Here are more verses to keep the trust that God will help you endure to the end.

Kilometer 11  Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.  Psalms 127:1

Kilometer 12  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.  Psalms 32:8

Kilometer 13  For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.  Psalms 48:14

Kilometer 14  The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can human beings do to me? Psalms 118:6

Kilometer 15  You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. Psalms 45:7

Kilometer 16  The righteous may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers them from them all.  Psalms 34:19

Kilometer 17  It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.  Psalms 18:32

Kilometer 18  With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.  Psalms 18:29

Kilometer 19   Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Psalms 37:3

Kilometer 20   Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.  Psalms 125:1

 

Asking for Safety and Protection

You’re half way already in the marathon.  Here are some Psalms asking for protection and safety.

Kilometer 21  Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, LORD, my faithful God.  Psalms 31:5

Kilometer 22  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.  Psalms 23:4

Kilometer 23  Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies – make your way straight before me.  Psalms 5:8 

Kilometer 24   When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  Psalms 56:3

Kilometer 25  Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.  Psalms 20:7

Kilometer 26  You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.  Psalms 18:28

Kilometer 27  I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.  Psalms 3:5

Kilometer 28  Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.  Psalms 16:1

Kilometer 29  Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.  Psalms 71:9

Kilometer 30  He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.  Psalms 23:3

Ask for Strength

Once you hit kilometer 30, there can be a lot of questions.  This is where people say the Wall will set in.  At this point, you could feel some pain, or maybe have cramps, You feel tired or slow.  You feel thirsty and weak.  You could be asking this same verse:  My soul is in deep anguish. How long, LORD, how long? Psalms 6:3

These Psalms will help you find the strength again.

Kilometer 31  Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  Psalms 46:10

Kilometer 32  God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1

Kilometer 33  In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.  Psalms 71:1

Kilometer 34  As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.  Psalms 42:1

Kilometer 35  You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.  Psalms 63:1

Kilometer 36  Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.  Psalms 27:14

Kilometer 37  Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.  Psalms 10:12

Kilometer 38  But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.  Psalms 9:18

Kilometer 39  Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.  Psalms 31:9

Kilometer 40  For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.  Psalms 27:5

Reaching the Finish Line

It’s two more kilometers.  This is it.  Adrenalin is pumping.  You feel good.  You see people at the sides cheering you up.

Kilometer 41  Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Psalms 95:1

The finish line is so close.  You can see the words finish in front of you.

Kilometer 42 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  Psalms 100:4
Congratulations and To God Be The Glory.  Start your celebration with these verses from Psalms.

• You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.  Psalms 30:11
• My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you – I, whom you have redeemed.  Psalms 71:23

• Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.  Psalms 98:1

And if at the finish line, your body is in pain.  Or if it wasn’t a good day for you and you have to be out early in the race, may you find healing and comfort in these verses.

• Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint; heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.  Psalms 6:2

• He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  Psalms 147:3

• He protects all their bones, not one of them will be broken.  Psalms 34:20

• I have suffered much; preserve my life, LORD, according to your word.  Psalms 119:107

I hope that after taking this marathon journey with God, you continue to seek Him in all the days of your life.  If He can do miracles for you for one day, how much more if you cling to Him for the rest of your life.

• One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.  Psalms 27:4

• Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.  Psalms 23:6

• I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.  Psalms 146:2

 

Goodluck in your marathon and God Bless.  Feel free to share this to a fellow runner today.

If you are looking for more verse since you are joining an ultramarathon, check Top Verses for a complete list of great inspiring verses from the Book of Psalms.  It has a list of more than 2,000.  There’s enough for whatever distance you are planning, or whatever sport you are joining.

 

Is there a verse you’d like to add or share, or a verse you love the most?  Share it by leaving a comment below.