Dear Reader, are you overwhelmed? Psalm 143 is a prayer and a song for you! Let us first, as David does, call out to He who answers prayer!

¹ Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness.
² Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

Let us then lay the burden before our God.

³ For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in darkness,
Like those who have long been dead.
⁴ Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart within me is distressed.

Let us then rely upon Him!

⁵ I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your works;
I muse on the work of Your hands.
⁶ I spread out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah

And let us seek His will, for there is deliverance in it.

⁸ Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.

¹⁰ Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness.

¹¹ Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!
For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
¹² In Your mercy cut off my enemies,
And destroy all those who afflict my soul;
For I am Your servant.

Let us then pray.

Dear Lord and heavenly Father,

You are great and greatly to be praised. Father, my sins are great, the world is pressing in, the devil is roaring like a lion, seeking my destruction. But Your Son, my Saviour, has done all that is necessary to rescue me from the pit. Teach me Your ways, for in them, I am safe. In Jesus’ name, Amen.