Prayer

Psalm 141:2

Photo by Patrick Fore / Unsplash

Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

Psalm 141:2, ESV

The words of this Psalm are a regular part of my prayers. The depth of them resonates deep within my heart. It is a humble appeal that comes from David, a king, warrior, and the man described as “one after God’s own heart.” It reminds me of the importance of prayer and the expectant hope that the prayers that I lift up will be heard and found pleasing to God. God hears our prayers. In fact, He knows our prayers before we utter them. In spite of this fact, our Lord wants us to pray and continue to pray. We are called to pray with humility and expectation. We are to pray with hopefulness and trust. Our prayers are an offering of ourselves to God, and in them is a realization that we are not in control and are making an appeal and trusting that the Lord hears us.

Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.