Throughout this series we have joined some of our favorite biblical characters in the prayers they once prayed and which God has preserved for us in the Scriptures. As you ponder the variety of prayers from the Great Prayer Book, the Psalms, be enveloped by each word as if it was written directly to and for you…because in fact they were and are a gift from God for you. Praying the Scriptures in this way will bring health and vitality to your heart and soul, and great liberty to your life of prayer.
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Praying the psalms is so helpful to the one who longs to bring before God the genuine heart cries evoked by real life. In this psalm we see many such longings: to put our trust in the Living God, who doesn’t put us to shame and doesn’t allow our human, cultural or demonic enemies to rot our soul with their influence. Out of such protection this psalm prays for direction from the Lord…show me, teach me and guide me in your truth and then toward the pathway of hope, mercy and love given to me. And, this psalm is a prayerful remembrance of all that God has done in the past to heal, redeem, forgive, provide and protect. The latter part of the psalm is a plea for grace and relief from the pangs of this world and for God to be the one to guard, rescue and protect our integrity. Praying this psalm allows the believer to put everything out on the table with earnestness and authenticity. May this be so for your prayers as well.
Today…
Join the psalmist with your own intercession for a trusting, protective, empowering life in, through and with God, the lover of your hope-filled soul. (Psalm 25)
In you, Lord my God, I put my trust
I trust in you;
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.
Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.
Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
For the sake of your name, Lord,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
They will spend their days in prosperity,
and their descendants will inherit the land.
The Lord confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.
My eyes are ever on the Lord,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
Relieve the troubles of my heart
and free me from my anguish.
Look on my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
See how numerous are my enemies
and how fiercely they hate me!
Guard my life and rescue me;
do not let me be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope, Lord,is in you.
Deliver Israel, O God,
from all their troubles!
Behold the splendor of the Lord – Believe the promises of his love – Belong to those who unreservedly trust him – Become prayerful in all you are and do.