How do we pray?

 Trouble has come for many in this day- our hearts break for the hurting, our minds are silent. It is as if in a moment’s time the Lord allows many to experience an unexpected darkness.

And, often,there are no words when praying over the afflicted. Times like this, it seems like the Bible on the shelf weighs 100 pounds. It is just too heavy to pull off the shelf.
When eyes are blinded by tears and heart ache. Lord I pray ears are open to hear Your song:
Zephaniah 3:16,17, “In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear;
Zion, let not your hands be weak.
The LORD you God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you in His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

There might be change and trial, but the hymns bring back melody in our heart to hear: “Through every change, He faithful will remain.”
Through every change, He faithful will remain.
This is truth.
Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Everything may have changed, but He remains the same.
“Through every change, He faithful will remain, Be still my soul…”
Perhaps the prayer of the afflicted today looks like Ps.6:6-8,
“I am weary with my groaning;
All night I make my bed swim;
I drench my couch with my tears.
My eye wastes away because of grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.

But the song: “Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake.” (Be Still My Soul).
We are shaken! We become moved.
But the song: “Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake…” draws the broken-hearted to the songs of Psalms: Ps. 62:1,2, “Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense;
I shall not be greatly moved.”
“Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake…”
And we pray for the afflicted, “Lord give them grace to ‘wait silently for God alone.’
Lord, that they hear Your song of faithfulness and that they wait on You as they heal:
Ps. 62:5-7,
“My soul, wait silently for God alone.
For my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.”

The hymn reminds us:  “All now mysterious”
So we pray that they may be strengthened to:
Ps. 62:8, “Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
and that they would know that,
God is a refuge for us. Selah
“All now mysterious...” – most certainly:
Ps. 62:9,10, “Surely men of low degree are a vapor,
Men of high degree are a lie;
If they are weighed in the balances,
They are altogether lighter than vapor.
Do not trust in oppression,
Nor vainly hope in robbery;
If riches increase,
Do not set your heart on them.

God has spoken once,
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God.”

“Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake…”
We are reminded yes, “All now mysterious” BUT they “shall be bright at last.”
We pray for ourselves and the afflicted,
“Be still my soul, the waves and wind still know
His voice who ruled them
while He dwelt below!”

Lord, our prayer for the afflicted is increased hearing during this time of darkness, an increase in hearing of Your song over them, hearing of Your Psalms and Hymns to enable them to Be still and know again and again, over and over:
“God has spoken once,
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God.
Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy…”Psalm 62:11.

And we would have a new response:
“In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.”

“In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Author: Toni Rypkema

I'm a believer in Jesus. Because of this, I am married to a wonderful husband and the mom of a large family. For those who have battled cancer, or any other tragedy or disease, you might understand, I had a choice to get better or bitter. I chose to give thanks to Jesus for my every breath. For that reason alone, wanting to proclaim His goodness, do I write - Toni