5 Prayers From Psalm 40 to Lift Your Back-Breaking Burden
Psalm 40:2 says, “And set my feet on a rock, and established my steps.”
My Prayer: Grace-filled God, after You pulled me up, You gently put my feet on solid ground so I could walk without stumbling! You knew that I would need a firm foundation—a safe place to learn how to walk securely and upon which to dance with delight once again. Father, You helped me to find my balance when I was teetering on the edge of an abyss. I was so afraid I would fall in, for the pressure felt so great and the storm was insatiably vicious. But You held out Your hand to me in the midst of it all and graciously rescued my thoughts from the temptation to give in to despair. You set me down where I could no longer be battered by the taunts and lies of the enemy of my soul. You stood me up on the Rock that is Christ Jesus!
Psalm 40:3 says, “He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God.”
My Prayer: Holy Spirit, my joy was literally ebbing away until You rescued me and filled my mouth with fresh, new praises to the God of Glory! You have given me hope and peace and life once again and in the midst of the struggles of my circumstances, You have reminded me to keep my gaze fixed upon the Holy One. You’ve helped me to understand how to rejoice always, even when life seems brutally unfair—especially to those I love and care for the most. Please keep teaching me new songs moment by moment, for worshipping the King of kings is my deepest desire. Keep me focused upon Your Word, for embedded there is the sword that defeats the enemy. May I sing Your words back to You as a thank offering for all You have done to rescue me from destructive thoughts and actions. “Let them bless Your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the Lord. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and You preserve them all. And the host of heaven worships You” (Neh. 9:5-6).
God has done all these things so that:
Psalm 40:3 says, “Many will see it, and fear, and will trust in the Lord.”
When others see how God has allowed me to walk through my circumstances in victory, they will be in awe of what my amazing, Almighty God can do. They want to trust in a God who can do what He has done, is doing and will continue to do for me when I cry out to Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” This Scripture doesn’t say that we are to be joyful for our difficult and painful circumstances, but it does say we are to be joyful, prayerful, and thankful in the midst of them.
How do we do that?
If we will pour out our hearts to God in prayer from our deepest, darkest places of despair, we need to have faith that He will bend down to hear us, lift us up out of the pit, and set us upright on solid footing once again so that we can walk in victorious praise and so that many will see His goodness and power and put their trust in Him.
God will use your most devastating circumstances to bring glory to Himself through you! Your prayers from the pit can be the very thing that rescues others from the pit as well. Stand firm in times of suffering and “Wait patiently for the Lord.” He is there and just waiting for you to recognize His presence in the midst of your trials. Trust Him to bend down to listen and hear your cries of desperation so that He can hold out His hand to You and show You His faithfulness. And then don’t keep His rescue a secret! Give Him the praise and the glory so that “many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord.” {eoa}
Kim Butts is co-founder of Harvest Prayer Ministries and author of The Praying Family
© 2015 Harvest Prayer Ministries.
