Prayer focus: May 2013
Reflection – Our Deliverer
Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;
heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, Lord, how long?
Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
Who praises you from his grave?
I am worn out from my groaning.
All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.
My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.
Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.
All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.
Psalm 6 (NIV)
Reflection
Let us not grow weary in well doing. Our enemies may try to tear down the work of the Lord, but he has promised to hear our cries. Our God is a God of peace and justice. If we continue to work in the name of Lord, who can stand against us? We need the Lord in our world now more than ever. Evil continually pierces our lives, but it will not prevail. It breaks our heart to see horrors such as poverty, war and trafficking taking place in the world. The Lord has promised good to us and we must hold tight to that promise. We must fight injustice in the world. The Lord is our deliverer!
Prayer
Lord, we thank you for being our deliverer in times of trouble. We know that our world needs you now more than ever. Instil in us a passion to fight for your people. We must never forget that we are all your people Lord. May we deliver your people from injustice in the world. May we be unafraid to expose the injustices that persecute your people. We ask for guidance, wisdom and strength. Protect us from those who would try to harm us in doing your work. Amen.
Exercise
Personalise and repeat the following Scripture verses during the month of May.
I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;
I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
Psalm 7:17
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour,
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.
Psalm 25:4-7