Psalm 27: Prayer for the Anxious and Fearful: Supplication through the Scriptures
Psalm 27Prayer for the Anxious and Fearful
Fear is a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined.(1) Our imaginations wield the power to envision many scenarios which can lead to feelings of fear, anxiety, or worry. Charles Spurgeon said, “Doubtless the shadow of anticipated trouble is, to the timorous minds, a more prolific source of sorrow than the trouble itself.” In other words, we can cause ourselves more fear and anxiety when we spend our time and energy dreading what might come than walking through the actual experience we are dreading.
It is not always easy to battle fear, especially during certain seasons of our lives. But we have the same God on our side that said to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go”(Joshua 1:9). Let’s pray today for ourselves and those we know who are struggling with fear, real or imagined, that our confidence would be in the nearness of the presence of our God.
A Fearless Heart
27:1-3 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
Great and Mighty God, I pray for the one who is fearful:
▫️In whatever situation they are tempted to fear, their confidence would be in the Lord and in His presence.
▫️If someone is the cause of their fears, they would draw near to the Lord and He would be their light, their salvation, their stronghold and defense in their time of trouble.
▫️Whatever device Satan is using to assail, oppress, or devour them and their trust in the Lord, the Lord would cause those foes to stumble and fall.
▫️When they feel powerless to overcome their fearful feelings and the circumstances causing them fear, the Lord would say to their anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not. Behold your God will come with a vengeance; the recompense of God will come, But He will save you” (Isaiah 35:4).
▫️In the midst of their situation they would be able to say, “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident” (Psalm 27:3).
Instead of Fear, Joy and Singing
27:4-6 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
Lord of hosts, I pray:
▫️When they are battling fear, they would turn their gaze away from the cause of their fear and the fear itself and gaze on the Lord. “We are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on Thee” (2 Chronicles 20:12).
▫️They would seek after the one thing necessary: to dwell in the house of the Lord, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and inquire in His temple, and as a result they would rest in the Lord’s almighty power and fear would be relieved.
▫️In this day of trouble, where their fears have been magnified, the Lord would hide them in His shelter and conceal them under the cover of His tent, and He would remind them, “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
▫️When their head hangs low in discouragement, the Lord would lift up their head, and their enemies, whatever they may be, would be defeated.
▫️The Lord would fill their heart and mouth with singing and making melody to Him, and they would offer sacrifices with shouts of joy.
▫️They would exchange their fear for joy, their anxiousness for confidence in Christ, their discouragement for courage in the Lord.
Seeking His Presence
27:7-10 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, Lord, do I seek." Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.
Patient Lord, I pray:
▫️When they are weeping and crying aloud for relief from their anxieties and fears, the Lord would answer them speedily.
▫️The Lord would draw them to Himself through His Word and help them to see Him and His ways clearly. He would strengthen their heart with a specific verse applied to their heart by the Holy Spirit.
▫️Their heart would respond joyfully and they would seek His face and His presence in the times of fear and anxiousness.
▫️As for them, the nearness of God would be for their good and they would make the Lord God their refuge (Psalm 73:28) and they would delight in the nearness of God (Isaiah 58:2).
▫️The Lord would not hide Himself or turn away in anger from their cries for help and mercy.
▫️They would confidently say, “Behold, God is my helper; the LORD is the sustainer of my soul” (Psalm 54:4).
▫️They would not feel forsaken by the Lord or by their family and friends, but they would be supported by both the Lord and those near them.
Waiting on the Lord
27:11-14 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Lord in Your goodness, I pray:
▫️The Lord would teach them His way, the way of peace, hope, and joy. They would learn not to be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, they would make their requests known to the Lord, and His peace would guard their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
▫️The Lord would not give them over to the enemies of their soul, namely fear and anxiety, which can be very powerful adversaries.
▫️They would not despair, but they would stand firm believing that they will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. They would not despair of life but would hope in God.
▫️The Lord would give them courage to seek outside help when needed, and He would help relieve the physical affects of fear and anxiety on their body.
▫️They would steadfastly wait on the Lord while He works in their situation. They would be strong and their heart would take courage and wait for Him.
May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
A lament is the proper response for the fearful heart. A heart that fears the Lord turns to God for help, recognizing that it is God alone who saves.
Christina Fox, A Holy Fear
Psalm 27 quoted from the ESV.
Photo credit to lazycreekimages
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