On March 10th, I arrived in Çanakkale, Türkiye to join the men’s team, Daddy Day Care. The next morning, we gathered together at 10 to share in corporate worship. Kevin, one of P Squad’s beloved worship coordinators, and the guys have fought hard to keep worship a priority on the team. On this particular morning, the rotation fell on Elijah Pequeno, who was my first team leader and has now become a kind and wise brother to me. Elijah turned on some instrumental worship and proceeded to explain what we would do…
We were to pick a Psalm that stood out to us and begin to pray through it. This can be done a variety of ways: journaling the words, praying your version, praying topics that relate to the verses, writing your own Psalm, etc. Over the last 2 years, this practice has become one that my heart loves. In 2021, I read a book that changed my perspective of prayer, and it breathed new life into my relationship with Jesus. Often, we feel distracted in prayer, don’t know what or how to pray, or we get caught in a rut of saying the same old thing after the same old thing. In Praying the Bible by Donald S. Whitney, he urges believers to keep it simple and pray through scripture. After all, fathers delight when their kids, ‘repeat after me’, am I right?
So, if you’re feeling stuck in your relationship and conversations with Jesus or want life brought back into your prayers, give praying through scripture a try. Psalm 23 and Psalm 16 are two of my favorite psalms to pray, you could start there! During worship, I chose to read and pray through Psalm 40. I’d love to share the psalm with you and my heart’s prayer in reflection on it (italicized beneath the scripture).
Psalm 40 x My Heart’s Prayer
I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
I wait on you and trust your timing. You always hear me.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog,
You brought me out of depression, perfectionism, and control,
And set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
And you established me in your love, making me secure.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.
You put a song of worship in my mouth, a new praise!
Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
May you open our eyes to see you rightly and to trust you!
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not
You will bless me for trusting you. It’s better to trust in
Turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!
You than to worship or trust in myself, others, or creation.
You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and
You continue to show us your power and love in tangible ways.
Your thoughts towards us; none can compare with you!
The Lord of all Creation thinks of me. None is like you!
I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.
Forever I will share testimonies of what you’ve done.
In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
My broken attempts to cover my sin don’t appease you,
But you have given me an open ear.
But you listen to me and care to hear my heart’s cry.
Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
You haven’t asked anything of me – you offer me grace.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is
I am refreshed when I hear your words to me.
Written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God;
Your Word guards, teaches, protects, heals, and changes me.
Your law is within my heart.”
I take refuge in you and hide your Word on my heart.
I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation;
I have shared how you saved me and delivered me from sin;
Behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord.
I will not be ashamed of the gospel and its power.
I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I won’t keep salvation a secret!
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I will always talk of your faithfulness and salvation.
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
I can’t keep this good news to myself! All of my life
From the great congregation.
You’ve been faithful, and I’ll encourage other believers with testimonies of you.
As for you, O Lord you will not restrain your mercy from me;
You don’t withhold mercy – its new every morning.
Your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!
I will be sustained by your love and faithfulness forever.
For evils have encompassed me beyond number;
Sometimes I feel surrounded by the schemes of the enemy…
My iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see;
Sometimes I feel blinded by sin or my flesh…
They are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.
There is nothing good in me, but it’s not about my goodness anyways.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
You delight in saving me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
You are quick to be my help!
Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
The enemy has no authority over you!
Who seek to snatch away my life;
The enemy came to steal, kill, and destroy, but you’ve given me abundant life!
Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
The enemy will not prosper or celebrate in victory.
Who delight in my hurt!
No weapon formed against me will stand!
Let those be appalled because of their shame
We know the end of the evil one – it is his shame.
Who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
I’m not swayed by his deceitfulness.
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
Everyone who seeks you is satisfied by love and rejoices.
May those who love your salvation
May all who have experienced salvation in you
Say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
Never stop giving praise and honor to you.
As for me, I am poor and needy
I am desperate for you, my God.
But the Lord takes thought for me.
You hear me and see me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
You are my helper and I’m saved by your grace!
Do not delay, O my God!
I eagerly await your return. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! Come.
I hope this encouraged you! You matter to God, so you matter to me.
With love,
Kara Grace <3
WOAH! Really really encouraged by this Kara. Love your heart!