“I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:1–2
We live in times where there are more and more challenges on this side of Heaven and they test our courage to it’s seemingly fullest measure. We’re not alone; ever. There are times when our challenges in this fallen world seem too big, too fierce, too horrible and in our despair, we forget that we are not alone. Our Savior has faced all that the evil foe had to throw upon Him and Jesus has won that battle for us and is with us as we face life’s next challenge.
Heavenly Father, we come before you today and pray that You would bring us relief when we are swamped with the bad tasting wave of despair and discouragement. Grant deliverance for us who are caught in that awful smelly swamp and start to slide into its dark, gooey filled waters. Encourage our hearts as we face those depressing, dark moments that leave us feeling hopeless and believing the lie that things will never change. Father, give us hope beyond the heartbreaks we experience. In humbleness, Father, we call upon You as Your children. We ask You to lift our spirits by transforming our minds. Strengthen us to see the value of dwelling on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. Help us to set our minds on heavenly things rather than on those earthly things that continually drag us down. Give us a rallying focal point around Your grace, dear Lord. We need that point of focus, given our times in this pandemic, and uncertainty, being as they are, and our moods so given to change. Thank You that Your Son loves us and keeps on loving us no matter where we’ve strayed or what we have done. Thank You that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Lord, we also pray for those lost souls next door, in Haiti and throughout this world, who have never met Your Son as Savior. We ask that their burden of discouragement would be lifted by the realization that Jesus's death on the cross paid the complete price for their sins. Help them see past their pain to the reality that there is nothing they need to do, can do or promise or change or give up in order to be accepted by You. Help them to trust in Your Son. May they do so today.
In Jesus name we pray. Amen.