Psalm 25-Prayer for a Beloved Friend, pt.2

Psalm 25
Prayer for a Beloved Friend, pt.2


Yet I have come to understand even suffering, through the transforming power of the Cross, as a gift, for in this broken world, in our sorrow, He gives us Himself; in our loneliness, He comes to meet us.

Elisabeth Eliott 

God is so kind to give us one another in the body of Christ to fellowship with one another, encourage one another, and enjoy life together. But the greatest friendship He offers to us is intimate friendship with Himself. He purchased that friendship with the blood of His Son in order that we would first be reconciled to Him and then be able to draw near to Him and He to us. We will continue to pray for a friend today, but the relationship our friend needs the most is the friendship they have with God, and we will pray for a deepening intimacy with our Heavenly Father.

The Friendship of the Lord

25:11-15 For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. 

Heavenly Father, I pray:

▫️For Your name’s sake, and for the honor of Your great name, You would pardon her guilt. She would confess her sin for which she is guilty, but she would not feel guilty or shame over things that are not her own sin.

▫️She would serve You with fear and rejoice with trembling (Psalm 2:11).

▫️Her love for You and fear of You would go together and give her knowledge and wisdom in Your ways and for the living of her life here on earth.

▫️When she has choices to make for herself or others, she would seek Your direction and You would instruct her in the way she should choose.

▫️Her soul would abide in well-being, and You would relieve any distresses to her soul and You would be near to her.

▫️She would abide in Christ, Your words would abide in her (John 15:7). She would abide in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1), in Your love (John 15:10), and in the teachings of Christ (2 John 1:9).

▫️You would give her close friendships with others who will point her to Christ, but You would ultimately draw her near to Yourself in intimate friendship with You.

▫️Her eyes would be ever toward You, and she would patiently endure until You pluck her feet out of the net.

Guard My Soul

25:16-22 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

Faithful Father, I pray:

▫️You would turn compassionately toward her and bless her, keep her, make Your face shine upon her, be gracious to her, lift up Your countenance on her, and give her peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

▫️As suffering and affliction can feel very lonely, help her to grasp the depth of Your love for her and that You know every moment that has caused her grief, every joy that makes her smile, every fear that causes her anxiety, and every longing of her heart.

▫️When the troubles of her heart are enlarged, You would bring her out of all her distresses by Your mighty hand.

▫️Put Your eyes upon her affliction, her trouble, and her foes, and in mercy and might, act on her behalf.

▫️Guard her soul.

▫️You know the dangers and pitfalls that she could fall into, guard her from Satan and her own fleshly desires. Deliver her and overcome the enemies of her soul.

▫️She would take refuge in You while the storm rages around her.

▫️She would preserve her integrity and uprightness, and these would keep her walking in Your ways as she waits for You.

▫️Redeem and rescue her out of all her troubles and give her Your abundant comfort in Christ.

May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.


The best among His children are those who know their Father’s mind the best and who yield to it the most joyful obedience. Within the walls of our Father’s house, should we have any other ambition than to be perfectly obedient children before Him and implicitly trusting toward Him? Yet, my friend, this is a kind of life that will bring communion with God.

C.H. Spurgeon, Being God’s Friend

Psalm 25:11-22 quoted from the ESV.

Photo credit to:  hannahbusing

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