What is your enemy which keeps you from a vital and personal relationship with the living God of the Bible?  Is it depression…or oppression in any form…or persecution?

Many of David’s Psalms are songs that express his heart, his emotions, his thinking.  He is honest and that is a valuable attitude to have when praying to the living God of the Bible.  These Psalm-prayers are from the depths of David’s being.

Perhaps you are in need of prayer and you are “stuck” in darkness.  Consider praying the following for yourself.

With honesty and with boldness we are to pray to God, the Holy God of the Bible and echo David’s words.

In Psalm 143, the first four verses express depression, oppression and persecution – each an enemy of Christ’s followers.  The following is taken from Psalm 143:5-8 NASB

‘Lord, like David, “I remember days of old,” days where You were at work.  “I meditate on all Your doings.”  Because of Your work and Your doings, I come this moment, into Your presence as I pray.  “I meditate on the work of Your hands” – to think Jesus died on the cross in my place.  He was resurrected from death to give me life beyond the grave.

‘Lord, “I stretch my hands to You” in prayer and plead for You to hear.
Indeed, my mind, my heart, my emotions, my will – longs for You as a dry and arid land which is parched and in need of rain.

“Answer me quickly, O Lord, my spirit fails; do not hide Your face from me or I will be like those who go down into the pit.”
‘O Lord, I cannot bear the thought – to never see You face-to-face or to never live in Your presence throughout eternity.’

Grief and deep sorrow is mine if I am never to be with You.  I want to see You, to speak face-to-face with You.  My desire is to spend eternity in Your presence.  O Lord, hear my prayer.

“Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning;
For I trust in You;
Teach me the way in which I should walk” this day!
I lift up my mind, my emotions, my will, yielding myself to You, most Holy God.

You, O Lord, are my Refuge ~ my Protection ~ my Defender ~ my Savior ~ my Lord!

You are my strength and my song!
Hallelujah, what a Savior!’

My God is my Refuge and You give me Your peace.