Lead Me to the Rock: Psalm 61-Supplication through the Scriptures
Lead Me to the Rock
Psalm 61
Experience is the nurse of faith. From the past we gather arguments for present confidence.
Charles Spurgeon
How quickly I can feel faint as a mother. The physical demands of mothering coupled with the weightiness of the task results in tiredness, weariness, and concern. So many demands from my children (I still have 6 at home!), the expectation of those outside, and my own earnest desires can mount up to discouragement and being overwhelmed, if I’m resting in my own strength. But like David in Psalm 61, I must practice daily, “when my heart is faint, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
And what a great Rock we have! His way is perfect. All His ways are just. He is a God of faithfulness and without injustice. Righteous and upright is He (Deuteronomy 32:4). He is the Rock of our salvation (Deuteronomy 32:15), our fortress, and our deliverer (2 Samuel 22:2). He is not deaf to us, and He is the rock of our strength (Psalm 28:1; 31:2). We need this Rock.
In Psalm 61, mothers have encouragement in our daily faintings. First, cry out to God in prayer. “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer.” Prayer recognizes our dependence on God. We realize we cannot in our own strength, wisdom, ingenuity, or foresight mother the children young and old He has given us. Our first act must be prayer, both persistent and “Nehemiah” prayers, those prayers offered up in the moment that may only be one short cry for help. But this cry comes to the ear of Omnipotent God and He has promised to supply all our needs.
Second, lean into the Rock of our refuge, the strong tower we have against the enemy. Let Him lead and guide us to experience a deeper intimacy with Him because we are looking to Him to support and carry us in the joys of motherhood as well as the sorrows. He sympathizes with us in our weakness. He understands our frailties and fears as mothers, and He cares for our cares so we may cast them on Him. Any and all cares. And He knows our children more intimately than we do. So run to the shelter of His wings and rest secure in the strong tower of our Savior.
Third, remember the goodness He has already shown toward you and your family, and let it give you renewed confidence that He will continue to show Himself faithful. David said, “You have heard…You have given.” These reflect mercies received in the past, things the Lord had already done for David. This is the same way Jeremiah bolstered his own soul in Lamentations. When his soul was bowed down within him, and he was despairing, he said, “This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s kindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-23). Hope was infused when he actively called to his mind the Lord’s past faithfulness to him.
Finally, praise as you perform your duties as a mother. “So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day”(Psalm 61:8). Day after day sounds a lot like the responsibilities of motherhood. We never take a holiday from being a mother. Even when the physical demands are less because children are older or are now adults, we often times have even more of a burden for their souls. So day after day, when your heart feels faint, sing praises to His name. While you get another bowl of cereal, read another book, run another child to work, teach someone how to wash the dishes, listen to a heartbroken child, or pray for your adult child, sing and press on in His strength day after day.
“For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God” (Psalm 18:31)?
Pray Psalm 61 for your own motherhood journey or for another mother you know.
Daily Dagger: When my heart is faint, lead me to the rock that is higher than I (Psalm 61:2).
Lead Me to the Rock
61:1-4 Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah
Lord, we pray:
▫️As mothers, we would not neglect to persistently and faithfully raise our cries and our prayers to You, Lord, and You would hear and answer our calls for help.
▫️When we are feeling faint as mothers, we would remember You, pray to You, and trust in the rock of our salvation (Jonah 2:7). What situation with your child is causing you to feel faint? Pray asking for God’s wisdom and strength to honor Him in this situation.
▫️You would lead us to Yourself, helping us to stand firmly on You, our Rock. Through this particular season you are in as a mother, how is the Lord drawing you closer to Himself? What is He teaching you about Himself through this season?
▫️You, O Lord, would be our refuge and place of rest as we faithfully love and serve our children.
▫️You would be a strong tower for us against the enemy. You would deliver us from temptation, strengthen our hope in Your sovereignty, and increase our confidence in Your wisdom and ways. What struggle are you facing as a mother? Pray the Lord would protect you and be your strong tower in that struggle.
▫️We would take refuge under the shelter of Your wings from anxiety over others’ opinions, or hearing hurtful words from our children, or our own self condemnation.
Watch Over Us
61:5-8 For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him! So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day.
Lord, we pray:
▫️You would strengthen us to the task of mothering.
▫️We would be good stewards of the heritage You have given us in our children and faithfully bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).
▫️You would give us life and health to serve our families well, and we would be willing to be poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of our children’s faith (Philippians 2:17).
▫️You would appoint Your steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over us and our children. Wherever they may be today, You would give Your angels charge concerning them to guard them in all their ways (Psalm 91:11).
▫️As we serve today as mothers we would sing praises to You, Lord, for the blessing of being a mother, and we would perform our duties day after day and gladly spend and be spent for their souls (2 Corinthians 12:15).
May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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