Are you going through a difficult time right now? Is there a problem in your life whose solution is elusive? I’m sure that for most of us, there exists something in our life that gives us stress, whether it is school, parents, children, finances, health, etc. It seems as if there is always something going on. The key, however, is how we deal with those problems. Do we sit and worry about them, or do we take them to the Lord and cast our cares upon Him (I Peter 5:7)? This choice has the power to aggravate or transform a situation. There is no problem in your life for which Jesus doesn’t have a solution. The choice is ours. However, we must take the problem to Jesus and leave it at the foot of the Cross.
In my reading this week, I came across Psalm 57, written by David as he hid in a cave from Saul, who desired to take his life. Did David cower in the cave, or did he call upon God? David did indeed call upon the Lord, and Psalm 57 recounts his prayer to the Lord. This Psalm displays a wonderful cycle of supplication and praise as David asks the Lord to help him and also praises God for who He is. So often our prayers are merely shopping lists, but not David’s prayer. David’s prayer in Psalm 57 reveals his heart as He seeks the heart of God.
David’s prayer is preserved for us because it is a powerful prayer and worthy of our notice. Remember, God gave us the psalms, songs and prayers, as part of His love letter to us, the Bible. We can read God’s word and make it our own. Join me as I take a closer look at David’s prayer. Following the pattern he laid out, I’m going to make David’s psalm my own.
Psalms 57:1: Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee: yea, in the shadow of Tthy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
My Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that You would be merciful to me. I trust in you and I know that I am protected when I take cover under you. Please protect me and care for me during the struggles I now face.
Psalms 57:2:I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
My Prayer: I come to you, Lord, because I know that all events in my life are filtered through Your nail-scarred hands, and that You are in control of all things.
Psalms 57:3:He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.
My Prayer: Lord, I know that you will protect me, and that you will send your protection from Heaven. I thank you, Lord, that in spite of my circumstances, I know that You are true and that your mercy will endure forever. Lord, I pray that you would send that mercy and truth into the situation I now face.
Psalms 57:4:My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
My Prayer: Lord, I feel as if lions surround me and as if everyone is out to get me.
Psalms 57:5:Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
My Prayer: But Lord, I know that in spite of my circumstances, and no matter what I feel, You are sovereign. Lord, I exalt you because I know that You are all powerful, all knowing, and all loving. Lord, I pray that Your glory would be displayed all over the earth. Lord, please use me and these circumstances I find myself in, to glorify Yourself.
Psalms 57:6:They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.
My Prayer: Lord, I feel that those who are out to get me are setting traps for me, left and right. Lord, my heart hurts from their digs. Lord, I feel as if they are pulling me into the hole they are digging for themselves.
Psalms 57:7:My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
My Prayer: But Lord, regardless of my circumstances, I will not fall. My heart is fixed on You and my resolve is fixed upon living a life that is pleasing to You. Regardless of my circumstances, I will praise You.
Psalms 57:8:Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
My Prayer: Lord, I pray that as I find myself in difficult circumstances, You will help me to spend more time with You. Awaken me early, so that I will spend time with You before I face the problems of the day.
Psalms 57:9:I will praise Thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto Thee among the nations.
My Prayer: Lord, even though times are hard right now, I’m going to tell people about You. Lord, my life is difficult right now, but I’m going to praise You in all circumstances and show those around me that I can rise above the circumstances of life, because I walk with You.
Psalms 57:10:For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and Thy truth unto the clouds.
My Prayer: Lord I know how merciful You are because I’ve seen it displayed in my life before. Lord, I know that You and You alone are true, because I’ve seen the power of Your truth displayed in my life before.
Psalms 57:11:Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.
My Prayer: Lord, whatever happens in this situation today, I will praise You. Lord, I lift You above the circumstances of my life, knowing that You are sovereign and You are in control and that with Your power I can rise above my struggles. Lord, You are bigger than the Heavens and all the Earth. Thank you for loving me, and for giving me access to Your power through Your Son, Jesus. Lord, I praise You for all your goodness. Please lead, guide, and direct me through this day.
As you can see, God’s Word is living and active. It guides us in all aspects of our life, even our prayers. David was a man of God, and his songs and prayers were inspired by the Lord and immortalized in God’s Word. Therefore we can be sure that his prayers are given to us as models. Now it’s important to note that we can always talk to God, all the time, without following a psalm, or other passage from the Bible. The Bible is rich, however, and by making it our own as we’ve done here, its richness is revealed more and more.