Heralds of Ungrace

A Prayer. Inspired by Psalm 3, on Confidence in Troubled Times.

Father,
why is it that the closer I get to You,
the more my enemies multiply?

I am surrounded by a cloud of wicked witnesses —
scorners of wisdom;
heralds of ungrace.

But Your presence enfolds me,
shielding me from their poison tongues.
My eyes rise to meet Your gaze:
Delight of my Heart.
Lover of my Soul

My words do not fall on deaf ears.
From broken whisper to deafening wail,
You hear me,
and from infinite realms of glory,
You stoop to reply.

As darkness descends,
I drift off to peaceful slumber,
safe in the arms of grace.
And when I wake,
I rise with new strength.
The voices rattle on,
but their words have lost their hold on me.

Rise, Lord!
Lift me from their reach!
Scatter their crooked chorus!
Shatter the jaws that utter lies!

You are the Way,
the Truth,
the Life,
and all who love You are rightly called
the Beloved of God.

(from Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms)

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Psalm 3

CONFIDENCE IN TROUBLED TIMES

A psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom.

1 Lord, how my foes increase!

There are many who attack me.

2 Many say about me,

“There is no help for him in God.”

Selah

3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,

my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.

4 I cry aloud to the Lord,

and he answers me from his holy mountain.

Selah

5 I lie down and sleep;

I wake again because the Lord sustains me.

6 I will not be afraid of thousands of people

who have taken their stand against me on every side.

7 Rise up, Lord!

Save me, my God!

You strike all my enemies on the cheek;

you break the teeth of the wicked.

8 Salvation belongs to the Lord;

may your blessing be on your people.

Selah