Day 260 – Prayer

Psalm 141:1 (A Psalm of David.) JEHOVAH, I cry out to You; make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. 2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 3 Set a guard, O JEHOVAH, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. 4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men who work iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies.

 5 Let the righteous strike me; it will be kindness. Let him rebuke me; it will be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked. 6 Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff, and they hear my words, for they are sweet. 7 Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave, as when one plows and breaks up the earth. 8 However, my eyes are upon You, O Y@HOVIH Adonay; in You I take refuge; do not leave my soul destitute. 9 Keep me from the snares laid for me, and from the traps of the workers of iniquity. 10 Let the wicked fall into their nets, while I escape.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Y@HOVIH – God

Adonay – God’s proper name

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Refuge

Protector

Listener

Many times, life takes you to places you don’t want to go. In those times, people will pray, even those unaccustomed to prayer will pray for relief from their troubles.

David knew who to turn to when troubles befell him. He prayed to JEHOVAH. He asked Him to keep him away from evil people and their evil intentions. He asked JEHOVAH to keep a guard on his mouth so no evil thing would come from it, and he asked JEHOVAH to keep him away from their delicacies. David wanted JEHOVAH’S protection and to see the wicked fall into their schemes.

How often do you pray to Yeshuwa to put a guard on your mouth? Too often Christians act like the world, mimicking what they say and do and think nothing about it because they hear it everywhere they go. You need to set yourself apart from the world, not incorporate yourself with it. Don’t let tolerance infiltrate your soul so that you become complacent and don’t think about what you say or do.

David saw what Israel did and how they acted. He saw what the nations around them did and wanted no part of their lifestyle. His continual prayer was for JEHOVAH to keep him away from wicked people. He wanted JEHOVAH to infiltrate every area of his life so he wouldn’t become susceptible to wicked schemes.

Christians often pray the Lord’s Prayer. What does it say?

Matthew 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

It’s the same prayer David prayed when he asked JEHOVAH to keep him from evil people, thoughts, and schemes. He wanted to live his life fully immersed in what JEHOVAH wanted for him. It should also be your prayer.

Let’s pray: Father, let Your Word overflow me so no wicked thoughts or actions will cause me to stumble. Set a guard over my mouth so that everything I say will be a blessing to those who hear me and not cause reproach on my life. Let my life be bound in You and You alone. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 6 October 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux