Prayer for Victory

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord answer you in the day of trouble! The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your offerings, and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices. Selah
4 May he grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your plans.
5 May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
6 Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories by his right hand.
7 Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They will collapse and fall, but we shall rise and stand upright.
9 Give victory to the king, O Lord; answer us when we call.

via Psalm 20 (NRSV) – Biblia.com.

Life seems easy for some people. Looks, however, can be deceiving. How many times have we thought that someone had an easy go of things, only to find out later how difficult their life really was. Life…is hard. Even though we have technology that promises to make life easier, most of the time those promises don’t materialize. Sometimes we even yearn for simpler days ignorantly believing that simpler days would be, well, simpler. They weren’t.

With that in mind, David’s prayer is appropriate for anybody at any time. Maybe it is appropriate for you, right now! Spend some time reading over it. Don’t stop after reading it once. Allow the words to sink into your life.

This prayer would not be as moving if it weren’t for verse 7. David knew that those he was praying for had set their hope and confidence in God. They might have chariots and horses, but that was not where they put their faith. They were looking to God.

Where is your hope, faith, and confidence? Is it in your bank account? Your health? Your good looks? Maybe you trust your ability to earn a living, be creative, or innovative? There are many sources of our confidence. David knows that those who place their confidence in anything other than God will collapse. Those who place their faith in God, will “rise and stand upright.” Hopefully you put your trust in the One who can be trusted.

So, with David, I pray, May the Lord answer you in trouble, protect you, send you help, and give you support. May he grant your hearts desire and fulfill your plans! May you rise and stand upright! Our God is faithful!