Praying Through: Psalm 143

The Psalm

Psalm 143 (CSB)
A psalm of David.

1 LORD, hear my prayer. In your faithfulness listen to my plea, and in your righteousness answer me.

2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous in your sight.

3 For the enemy has pursued me, crushing me to the ground, making me live in darkness like those long dead.

4 My spirit is weak within me; my heart is overcome with dismay.

5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all you have done; I reflect on the work of your hands.

6 I spread out my hands to you; I am like parched land before you. Selah

7 Answer me quickly, LORD; my spirit fails. Don’t hide your face from me, or I will be like those going down to the Pit.

8 Let me experience your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in you. Reveal to me the way I should go because I appeal to you.

9 Rescue me from my enemies, LORD; I come to you for protection.

10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me on level ground.

11 For your name’s sake, LORD, let me live. In your righteousness deliver me from trouble,

12 and in your faithful love destroy my enemies. Wipe out all those who attack me, for I am your servant.

The Prayer

My Only Answered Prayer

The world had left me for dead

  • discarded
  • thrown away.

Satan had me in his teeth

  • and I was ravaged
  • beyond recognition
  • and beyond any reasonable healing

Demons continuously pop shots

  • their arrows
  • tear my flesh
  • and my heart
  • and straight through my mind
  • and my will.

I was left for dead.

I was dead.

I died.

But in the midst of my wickedness, my sin, my worthlessness, my trespass, my evil--

You saw me

  • all of my sin
  • all of it
  • the very base of my heart
  • and you saved me.

You saved me.

You alone loved me and cared for me.

You alone are worthy of all praise.

You are my Lord and God.

Amen.