Psalm 54:1-3

“Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.” vs. 2

When this prayer was included in the collection of psalms that were used by the people of Judah some 2500 years ago, it was attributed to King David. Whatever its origins it has become a favorite of believers who are crying out to God in moments of profound need. It is not at all unusual for us to find ourselves in situations where we feel pressures coming from every direction. Sometimes we can even identify enemies who have it in for us, those who would love to see us stumble and fall. Occasionally the attacks, often delivered via social media, can be horribly mean-spirited and destructive. In those instances, whatever the situation, we will frequently find ourselves driven to our knees in prayer. And as we pour out our fears and complaints we echo the psalmist, “Hear my prayer, O God.” The words, sometimes felt as much as said, come from the depths of our souls, a crying out for connection with our Creator. We crave vindication, some sort of affirmation or sign that our enemies will not have the last word. Sometimes we even pray that they will suffer calamity, that suffering could be visited on them. But then we think of Jesus and his reminder to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. And we’re left wondering. What shall we pray for? When we’re really hurting, it’s much easier to pray like the psalmist!

Thought for the Day: How do I choose to pray?