What does Psalm 25:1 mean?

In this verse David looks to the Lord in prayer. Although he was surrounded by pagan nations that worshiped false gods, David addressed his prayer to the one and only true God, Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God.

The words "lift up my soul" indicate that David was turning to God with his whole being. His prayer was intense. Prayer is not required to be deeply emotional. Nor is it meant only for "important" topics. However, prayer should never be apathetic or directed to anyone other than God. Prayer should always be focused and wholehearted. When Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, His praying was focused and so intense that He fell on His face (Matthew 26:39), prayed earnestly, and "his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:44). His disciples, on the other hand, fell asleep when they should have been praying (Matthew 26:40–41). Earlier, Jesus had told His disciples "a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1).

We can learn from David and Jesus what it truly means to lift our souls to the Lord in prayer.