"In a Dry and Weary Land" A Prayer Shaped on Psalm 63 - 27 March 2022

 

A Prayer Shaped by Psalm 63

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. There is nowhere else we can go to find our deepest satisfaction, but to you. When times are tough, your tender care lifts our hearts. When loved ones betray us, you are utterly trustworthy! May we always seek you when walking in plenty or dragging ourselves along through dry and weary lands where there is no water. We pray now for our own or others’ present situations (…). O Lord, hear our prayer.

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. We regularly find ourselves distracted and driven to distraction by our immediate frets and fears, catastrophes and calamities. But your steadfast love is better than life! O God who is even in our wilderness, keep us riveted to you and your goodness all our days. And for those who are being swallowed up in the sandstorms and searing pain of brokenness, breakdown and breakup, help us to hold them tight and aid them in being safeguarded in your steadfast love. We pray now for some who are on our hearts (…). O Lord, hear our prayer.         

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Thank you for filling us up, filling us out, and finding us when we wandered aimlessly in the wastelands. Please give us occasions to kindly and cordially guide others to come and cling to you, that they may recognize your right hand upholding them. We pray now for specific people (…). O Lord, hear our prayer.

But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped. Praying for ourselves, for brothers and sisters in Sub-Saharan Africa, China, Russia, Ukraine, and other lands, may our Lord Jesus, executing the office of King, subdue us to himself, rule and defend us, and restrain and conquer all his and our enemies (WSC 26). We pray now for these enemies (…). O Lord, hear our prayer.

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