Day 138 – Prayer

Psalm 39:1 (To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.) I said, “I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me.” 2 I kept silence, I held my peace even from good; and my sorrow stirred up. 3 My heart was hot within me; while I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue: 4 “JEHOVAH, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. 5 Indeed, You made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly, every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah 6 Every man walks about like a shadow; they busy themselves in vain; he heaps up riches and does not know who will gather them.

 7 “Now, JEHOVAH, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. 8 Deliver me from my transgressions; do not make me the reproach of the foolish. 9 I was mute, I did not open my mouth, because it was You who did it. 10 Remove Your plague from me; I am consumed by the blow of Your hand. 11 When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away like a moth; every man is vapor. Selah 12 “Hear my prayer, O JEHOVAH, and give ear to my cry; do not be silent at my tears; for I am a stranger with You, a sojourner, as my fathers were. 13 Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength, before I go away and am no more.”

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Deliverer

How often do you make a promise to yourself, but find it impossible to keep?

David tried to keep silent so he wouldn’t say something he would regret. However, the more he kept silent, the more sorrowful he felt until he could hold his tongue no longer and prayed for JEHOVAH to help him, forgive him, and take his sin from him. He asked JEHOVAH to remind him how short his life was and how he needed His help against his enemies.

As Christians, too often we rush in, saying something that tears people down instead of edifying them. We pray for Yeshuwa to put a guard on our mouths and then speak anyway.

David prayed because he knew that without JEHOVAH’S help, he couldn’t keep a promise to himself. Without His help, he was no better than his enemies.

You also need Yeshuwa’s help when you face your enemies. You need to pray, first for Yeshuwa to forgive you, as David did, then pray for Him to deliver you from your enemies.

Satan is your enemy. He stirs up trouble for you that only Yeshuwa can come against. When you pray, Yeshuwa breaks Satan’s hold on you. You cannot defeat Satan without prayer. David tried it and failed. Only when he prayed could JEHOVAH help him. Only when you pray can Yeshuwa help you.

What troubles do you face? Pray and watch Yeshuwa deliver you from Satan’s hold on you.

Let’s pray: Father, too often I go against Satan in my strength when I need Your strength and power to defeat him. Remind me that I cannot do anything without you, but with You I can defeat every scheme Satan brings against me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 5 June 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux