I will be using Psalm 27, a Psalm of David as the basis of my prayer this morning.  Please join me in prayer.  

Lord, we can be a forgetful people. I’m a forgetful person. I need to be reminded of truth often. Peter considered it right to stir us up by way of reminder. When we are tempted to fear or be anxious because of life’s challenges, remind us Lord that you are indeed our light, our salvation and the stronghold of our lives. You are not weak. You never fail. When we face death or disappointment or nights of uncertainty or a string of bad news or a season of feeling squeezed and pressured, or frustration over matters we don’t control, we can naturally respond in fearfulness. We can become sinfully anxious or afraid. 

Father, help us overcome the natural man and our fleshly responses of fear, anger, hopelessness or despondency. May we instead rightly respond in truth. Respond in confidence in our sovereign God who is good and does good. Respond in worship, in steadfast trust and in confidence, not in self or circumstances but in our creator God who loves us and ordains all that we will confront.   

When we are tempted to fear or anxiousness, Lord I pray that our response will be to seek your face. We often seek your hand to change our circumstances. But instead, might we seek your face to know you better, gaze intently at your beauty, trust you more, dwell on your holiness and sing your praises. You are worthy of all praise regardless of the circumstances we encounter or how we might feel in any given moment. 

I know that seeking your face is not a natural response. This sanctified response to trouble is empowered by your holy spirit and is fueled by knowing and rehearsing the truth of your word. Father God, help us be more diligent and even more reflexive in seeking your face.  We know you will not hide your face from us or turn away from our pleas to know you better. You will never abandon or forsake us. You are the God of our salvation. You are the anchor for our souls. You are our strong refuge.   

Father, we pray as David did and place our hope in Yahweh. We will despair, unless we believe that we will indeed see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living. That day is coming. Remind us of that truth often. Help us live with anticipation, not fear. Confidence, not anxiousness. Worshipful of God, not self-reliance. I pray we as a church would be strong with hearts filled with courage as we hope in Yahweh in all of life’s circumstances.