Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms

by Chad Bird

Untamed Prayers by Chad Bird is a book that will take you out of your spiritual comfort zone. As you read, you'll learn to leave behind the boring, predictable prayers and dive into ones full of praise, despair, joy, and lament. The Psalms cover all parts of life—the good times and the tough ones—and what better way to find the right words to say to God than the very prayers he gave us to pray?

But there's something special about this Chad Bird shows how these ancient prayers are connected to Jesus as you go through the Psalms. You'll discover that you're not just talking to God by yourself; Jesus is right there with you, praying alongside you. This is a book that helps you feel that closeness, freeing you to speak to the Father with complete honesty. If you're looking for a prayer life that is anchored in the words and works of Jesus, Untamed Prayers is the perfect guide for this journey.

Genres: Christianity, Theology

404 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

Chad Bird is a Scholar in Residence at 1517. He has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew. He holds master’s degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. He has contributed articles to Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Modern Reformation, The Federalist, Lutheran Forum, and other journals and websites. He is also the author of several books, including Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul, Your God Is Too Glorious: Finding God in the Most Unexpected Places, Upside-Down Spirituality: The 9 Essential Failures of a Faithful Life, and Unveiling Mercy: 365 Daily Devotions Based on Insights from Old Testament Hebrew. He cohosts two popular podcasts: “40 Minutes in the OT” and “Hidden Streams.” Chad and his wife Stacy have four children and three grandchildren. They enjoy life together in the Texas Hill Country.

Reviews

[Tiffany Gil · Rating 5 out of 5]

My soul longs for this kind of honesty

In a world of Christian messages that shout to you that all you have to do is "be better." Chad Bird's writings bring us back to the honest Gospel. A Gospel that says "I know you can't but I can. I am here and I love you, I love you so much and know you so well that I died for you, so you may live. Just as you are, no strings attached." Daily, I need to be reminded of this. As the pressure of the world pins me down and I daily fail to meet the expectations of a "perfect Christian". This daily devotional helps me remember that God wants all of me. The good, bad, broken, angry, joyful and ugly he wants it all. Praying the Psalms is life changing and I am so grateful that there is now a devotional to help better understand and deepen my prayers. Thanks be to God for his word.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have longed for a devotion written by such a scholarly author. I love the connections the author makes with Hebrew such as in crown in Psalm 21, always pointing to our Lord. Honestly, in studying the psalms I have learned to lament and praise- all in one. Having a son in heaven, as Chad also has, I have focused my prayers as the psalmist does- oh why Lord, and ending, oh thank you My Lord and Savior your mercies are great. I will keep this devotion close by as I read through the Psalms this year.

[Dana G. Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Devotional

I don’t read a lot of contemporary devotional material. I primarily read the Bible, a select classics. This recently released book by Chad is superb, a daily quick-read to ignite your Spirit and instill a hunger for more. Highly recommended.

[James Finke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Psalms are the most quoted Old Testament book in the New Testament, which is one reason I’ve been wanting to do a deep dive into them. I was excited when I saw that Chad Bird had written a devotional on this topic. Based on his social media posts alone, I knew I’d love this. I’m only a few days in, and I’ve already had multiple “wow, that’s powerful” moments. Chad brings a rich, Christ-centered perspective to the passages. If you’re looking to see Jesus more clearly through the Psalms, this is definitely worth a read.

[Robyn Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t really like writing reviews but this book deserves it. I’m excited to start it again in January and read it as a daily devotional. Chad Bird is so gifted with words and how he helps the reader understand the Old Testament. I especially love how he is always always pointing out where we find Christ in the OT, and this book is specifically about Christ in the Psalms. Just beautiful.