Overcoming 2: Life Lessons From the PsalmsSample

A Prayer -- "Say to My Soul"

Psalm 35:3 (NIV84): “Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.'”

I found my mom in the emergency room of the local hospital. This would be her last visit to an emergency room before she departed for heaven. This was the last time I would talk with her on this planet. She was 94 years of age, focused, talkative, and hoping to go home. She wanted me and the doctors to say to her soul she would be okay and get to go home. We did. And she did. To her heavenly home. Have you ever wanted someone to say to your soul, “It is going to be okay”? Do you remember a moment when someone said something to you that your soul desperately needed to hear?

David wrote Psalm 35 when the King of Israel sought to kill him. He felt betrayed by the King. Many of his friends chose to align with the King instead of him. He felt wronged. Mistreated. Falsely accused. The situation spiraled out of his control. It was bigger than he was. He did not have the resources to overcome his problem. David prays, “Say to my soul…” He needed to hear the satisfying and powerful voice of the Lord. David prayed to the Lord because he was convinced of two things:

1.He knew the voice of the Lord would anchor his soul with peace despite the enormity of the problem in front of him.

2.The Lord fulfills what he says when He speaks.

This entire Psalm is a very personal prayer of David. He took the time to journal his thoughts and emotions. He poured out his heart to the Lord. Then, the Spirit of God ensured this prayer would be added to the Psalms for countless generations to read. Why? Why would the Spirit of God expose a very private moment to the entire world?

To teach us how personal and honest we can be with the Lord. For most of the twenty-eight verses of this Psalm, David is ranting and raving. He is not being disrespectful nor inappropriate. He is being transparent and honest about his feelings and how he was treated by others. David is venting in the divine, safe, and loving presence of the Lord.

I relate to this season in the life of the Psalmist. I bet you do, too. Personally, I have had my share of heartache and troubles that were far bigger than any resource I had to overcome them. Most often, these were unexpected moments that erupted and took me by surprise. I took my state of shock, numbness, and feelings of unfairness and shared them with the Lord. In every instance, I felt heard. The release of my angst in His presence was therapeutic. In those sessions a scripture would often come to mind. Later, I would share with others, “The Lord said to my soul…”

I offer the following statements as an opening statement you might share with the Lord if being raw, emotional, and transparent has not been your style of prayer. If you are in a season of conflict, pick one of the following that will help you begin the process of fully sharing your thoughts and emotions. Ask the Lord to speak to your soul. If a scripture comes to mind, pause to meditate on how it might be the voice of the Lord speaking to your soul.

O Lord:

My heart is in despair for the situation I am in. Say to my soul, I am your salvation.

My thoughts are many, and I am confused. Say to my soul, I am your salvation.

Sorrow has descended upon my heart. Say to my soul, I am your salvation.

The way forward appears dark and uncertain. Say to my soul, I am your salvation.

I am weary and exhausted. Say to my soul, I am your salvation.

Fear and anxiety cycle within me. Say to my soul, I am your salvation.

You spoke to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; please speak to me.

You spoke to Peter, Paul, James, and John; please speak to me.

You spoke to Jesus, and He prayed and affirmed you would speak to me.

In this hour, I pray as the Psalmist prayed, “Say to my soul, I am your salvation.”

I pray this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Let me pray for you. Lord, please whisper the command of your sovereignty into the soul of the one who has read this devotional. Speak words of wisdom. Recall to their mind a verse in your Bible. May those words saturate their soul. May they seep into the deepest parts of their being. I pray their faith would be lifted to believe for a moment of salvation that has yet to arrive. May your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth, in their life, as surely as your will is done in heaven. May they eventually shout for joy and gladness, saying, “The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant. My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long" (Psalm 35:27-28). I pray this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.