Praying Through: Psalm 118 You Are God

The Psalm

Psalm 118 (CSB)
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.

2 Let Israel say, “His faithful love endures forever.”

3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His faithful love endures forever.”

4 Let those who fear the LORD say, “His faithful love endures forever.”

5 I called to the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and put me in a spacious place.

6 The LORD is for me; I will not be afraid. What can a mere mortal do to me?

7 The LORD is my helper; therefore, I will look in triumph on those who hate me.

8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humanity.

9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in nobles.

10 All the nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I destroyed them.

11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I destroyed them.

12 They surrounded me like bees; they were extinguished like a fire among thorns; in the name of the LORD I destroyed them.

13 They pushed me hard to make me fall, but the LORD helped me.

14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

15 There are shouts of joy and victory in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand performs valiantly!

16 The LORD’s right hand is raised. The LORD’s right hand performs valiantly!”

17 I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done.

18 The LORD disciplined me severely but did not give me over to death.

19 Open the gates of righteousness for me; I will enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.

20 This is the LORD’s gate; the righteous will enter through it.

21 I will give thanks to you because you have answered me and have become my salvation.

22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

23 This came from the LORD; it is wondrous in our sight.

24 This is the day the LORD has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it.

25 LORD, save us! LORD, please grant us success!

26 He who comes in the name of the LORD is blessed. From the house of the LORD we bless you.

27 The LORD is God and has given us light. Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks. You are my God; I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.

The Prayer

Lord

You alone are good

  • lovely
  • and pure
  • fairest of all
  • most beautiful
  • most holy
  • most righteous
  • most just
  • most merciful
  • most gracious
  • most loving
  • most kind
  • most gentle
  • most patient
  • most faithful
  • most true
  • most wise
  • most powerful
  • most glorious
  • most high
  • most exalted
  • most worthy
  • most wonderful
  • most awesome
  • most majestic
  • most excellent
  • most perfect
  • and most beautiful.

For you alone are God alone.

So what then can I say?
So what then can I do?
All I can do is simply thank you.

So from the bottom of my heart,
I thank you for giving me strength.

Thank you my Father God.
Thank you my Christ Jesus.
Thank you my Holy Spirit.

You judged me faithful.
You appointed to Your service.
Despite my dishonoring and blaspheming,
Your holy name,
despite my persecution and hatred
those who love you,
despite my perverted and violent opposition
towards you,

Still
I only received mercy
because I was lost
I was lame
I was deaf
I was blind
I was stupid
I was ignorant
I was evil
I was dead
and I was not looking and could not look for you whatsoever.

But Your beautiful, sweet and tender
love, mercy and grace
overflowed for me
overwhelmingly
undeservedly
ill-deservingly
with your unbroken faithfulness
and your relentless love
that can only be by You,
for You,
through You,
my Christ Jesus my Lord my Savior.

These words
out of my heart
are true
and with all of my hope and dreams
and desires and wishes
that these words would be sweet to your ears.

I know
that you came in this world
to rescue your people
to pull them out of despair
to give your people life
to save them from their sins
to bring them to you
evil sinners
at war with you
All of us
And I lead this group.
I am the foremost
I am their chief
I am their victor
I am the most vile
I am the most wicked
I am the greatest sinner
I am the champion of those who would face Your terrifying wrath!

Yet,
in this reason
that Your grace abounds all the more
that Your mercy renews every morning
that Your love never ceases
that You
my Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ
might display

Your perfection, beauty, tenderness, quickness,
Your love, mercy, grace, patience
for all of those who You call Yours
and those would believe upon Your holy name for life forever.

This is why I will sing
to the God of the everlasting to the everlasting
the Triune
the Father
the Son
the Holy Spirit
the immortal
the invisible
the Only One
the Creator
the Sustainer
the Merciful
the Peace
the Grace
the Faith
the Messiah
the Immanuel, God with Us
the Blessed
the Living Word
the Christ
the Son of God
the Fellow Heir
the Second Adam
the Kinsman Redeemer
the Beginning
the Means
the End
the Majesty
the Truth
the Way
the Life
the Wisdom
the Teacher
the Rescuer
the Promise
the Calling
the Fulfillment
the Abundance
the Host
the Governor
the High Priest
the Prophet
the Apostle
the Sufferer
the Messiah
the Servant
the Son of Man
the Glorified
the Power
the Gospel
the Guide
the Elector
the All-Sufficient
the Lion of Judah
the Worthy Lamb who was slain
the King of all kings
the Lord of all lords
the Commander
the Ruler above all
the Name above all Names
the Wonderful Counselor
the Mighty God
the Everlasting Father
the Prince of Peace

my Holiness
my Righteousness
my Justice
my Faithfulness
my Mercy
my Grace
my Friend
my Confidence
my Pastor
my Elder
my Brother
my Assurance
my Redeemer
my Rock
my Salvation
my All in all
my Exalted
my Glorious
my Beloved
my Joy
my Song
my Love

my Jesus Christ, King, Lord, Savior and Messiah
my Father, my Father, my Abba, my heart
my Holy Spirit, my comfort, my peace, my gift, my breath.

So I will be so very careful to
worship,
sing,
praise,
glorify,
exalt,
proclaim,
honor,
dedicate,
and love
You alone.

I pray this desperately and joyfully,
in the beautiful,
sweet,
precious,
most tender,
loveliest,
most worthy,
dearest name of
Your Son.

His name is
the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.