Praying Through: Psalm 16

The Psalm

Psalm 16 (CSB)
A Miktam of David.

1 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in you.

2 I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides you.”

3 As for the holy people who are in the land, they are the noble ones. All my delight is in them.

4 The sorrows of those who take another god for themselves will multiply; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not speak their names with my lips.

5 LORD, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I will bless the LORD who counsels me— even at night when my thoughts trouble me.

8 I always let the LORD guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely.

10 For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.

11 You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.

The Prayer

My Lord,

I have gone everywhere

  • I have not found any good apart from you

When I turn away from you or try to find not You

  • my sorrow and grief run deep
  • It crushes my hearts and buries my soul

When I try to give life to my idols

  • they give nothing back because there are no other gods
  • And I die

When will I realize that you alone are my All-in-all? When will I realize that you are the only One I ever need? When will I realize you are my infinite inheritance?

Oh

  • when I turn to you and when I peer into your lovely face
  • my soul awakens and my fills with gladness and joy

You have not ignored me

  • You give me wisdom
  • You have not stripped me
  • You give me strength
  • You have not given me over to my iniquities
  • You have given me your soft and tender
  • and healthy heart
  • You have not left me to drown in my sorrows
  • You have given me your Rock to stand upon
  • You did not cast me into hell
  • You hold me in your heart
  • You did not give me over to sin
  • You have cleansed me from all unrighteousness
  • You have not left me for dead
  • You have given me true life
  • You have not abandoned me to sadness and grief

When I’m with you

  • my heart is constantly
  • consistently
  • perfectly filled joy

I am no longer in pain

  • You have wiped away all my tears
  • You place my hand into your hand
  • At that moment
  • I will have unlimited access to your constant
  • consistent
  • perfect bliss forevermore

I love you

  • Lord and all that is in me
  • I will bless your holy name forever

In your Son’s perfect name I pray, Amen