In every situation, near or far,
Let prayer be our guiding star.
Not waiting for a time that's right,
But turning to God with all our might.
Our prayers are more than just requests,
They're acts of worship, of love professed.
To the Lord our God, we lift our voice,
In His presence, our hearts rejoice.
Mindful of our words, we strive,
To speak only what's pleasing in God's eyes.
With every word, may we impart,
A reflection of His love in our heart.
In times of trouble, on Him we fix our gaze,
Trusting in His love, lost in His grace.
Guiding and protecting us through the fray,
In His presence, we choose to stay.
REFLECTION:
Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice. (Psalm 141:2)
We should make prayer our first response in every situation and not wait for a convenient time but immediately turned to God in his time of need. Our prayers are not just requests, but they are also acts of worship to the Lord our God. Let us be mindful of our words and striving to speak only what is pleasing to God, fix our eyes on Him especially in times of trouble, and to trust Him to guide and protect us.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You today, recognizing that in every situation, prayer should be our first response. We understand the urgency of turning to You, not waiting for a convenient time but immediately seeking Your presence in our time of need.
We acknowledge that our prayers are not just requests, but they are also acts of worship to You, our Lord and God. As we lift our hands and hearts to You, may our prayers rise like a pleasing sacrifice, reflecting our love and devotion to You.
Help us to be mindful of our words, striving to speak only what is pleasing to You. Set a guard over our mouths, Lord, and keep watch over the door of our lips. May our words be a reflection of Your love and grace.
In times of trouble, we choose to fix our eyes on You. We trust in Your unfailing love and Your power to protect and guide us. Even when we walk through the darkest valley, we will fear no evil, for You are with us.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Pericope:
Fifth Book of Psalms 107-150
PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM THE WICKED
Psalm 141:1-10
Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 141:1-2, 3, 8
R: Let my prayer come like incense before you.
1 O Lord, to you I call; hasten to me; hearken to my voice when I call upon you. 2 Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice. (R) 3 O Lord, set a watch before my mouth, a guard at the door of my lips. 8 For toward you, O God, my Lord, my eyes are turned; in you I take refuge; strip me not of life. (R)
Background:
Psalm 141 is a psalm of David, who was a man of tender conscience. He asked God to deal with his own sin and weakness before addressing the wicked men who fought against him. This psalm shows that David was even more concerned about evil inside himself than he was about evil from others.
The psalm is a prayer against insincerity and compromise, and a plea for survival under the savage attacks which such an attitude has invited. The great preacher of the early church, John Chrysostom, said this psalm was used in his era (A.D. 349-407) as part of the evening liturgy in the Greek Church, due to the reference in verse 2 to the evening sacrifice.
The verses you mentioned (Psalm 141:1-2, 3, 8) are part of David’s prayer. In verses 1-2, David’s need was urgent, so he directed his prayer to the true God (Yahweh, the LORD) and begged him to help with haste. He used the smoke and smell of incense as a representation of his prayer to God. His posture of prayer (the lifting up of his hands) was a gift to God even as the evening sacrifice was a gift to God.
In verse 3, David asked God to set a guard over his mouth and keep watch over the door of his lips. This shows his desire to avoid sinning with his words and to speak only what is pleasing to God.
In verse 8, David expressed his trust in God, saying, "But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death". This shows his reliance on God for protection and deliverance.
In summary, Psalm 141 is a fervent plea of David, a prayer to God for protection from wicked influences and guidance in the path of righteousness. Amidst the tumult of his life, David seeks solace and divine intervention, expressing his commitment to righteousness and yearning for God’s presence.
Learning Lessons:
Psalm 141:1-2, 3, 8 offers several important lessons for believers:
Urgency in Prayer: David’s prayer to God was urgent. He didn’t wait for a convenient time but immediately turned to God in his time of need. This teaches us to make prayer our first response in every situation.
Prayer as a Pleasing Sacrifice: David likened his prayer and the lifting up of his hands to the evening sacrifice. This shows that our prayers are not just requests, but they are also acts of worship that are pleasing to God.
Guarding Our Words: In verse 3, David asked God to set a guard over his mouth and keep watch over the door of his lips. This teaches us the importance of being mindful of our words and striving to speak only what is pleasing to God.
Trust in God: In verse 8, David expressed his trust in God and his reliance on Him for protection and deliverance. This teaches us to fix our eyes on God, especially in times of trouble, and to trust Him to guide and protect us.
In summary, Psalm 141 teaches us about the importance of urgent and sincere prayer, the value of our words, and the necessity of trust in God. These lessons can guide us in our faith journey. (Conversation with Copilot)
