The Preacher’s Heart Prays Psalm 33

Our soul waits for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
Because we have trusted in His holy name.
Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,
Just as we hope in You. (Psalm 33:20-22)

I’m writing this on Monday, the day after a Sunday that many of you have preached and served at your local church. I know there are many people from many backgrounds who receive this email, so if you weren’t preaching in a pulpit, leading a class, or other kind of preaching and teaching service on Sunday, just take the principle for when you do serve in that way.

I was reading Psalm 33 and the last few verses stood out to me as suggesting thoughts for our praying after preaching and teaching. As pastors, preachers, and teachers we could pray it line by line:

Our soul waits for the Lord: “Father in heaven, yesterday I labored for You, for Your people, and those yet to be Your people. But I know the success of my work does not first depend on me; it needs Your blessing, Your anointing. So, I wait for You to bless and empower Your word that I spoke yesterday.”

He is our help and our shield: “Lord, You know some of the difficulties I’m going through with people and circumstances. Help me to not trust in myself or defend myself, but to look to You as my help and shield.”

Because we have trusted in His holy name: “It’s true, Lord – I do trust in Your holy name. When I preach Your word, it’s because I trust in You and not in me.”

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us: “Father, I need Your mercy. No one knows more than me how great are my weaknesses and how many are my failings. Let Your mercy be upon me, but not only me – may it be upon us, upon all those I know and love who are also serving You.”

Just as we hope in You: “Once more I confess it, Father – my hope is in You. My hope is not in my gifts, my effort, my holiness, my blessings. As I put my hope in You, do what You promised to do: to never fail the one who trusts in You.”

This is my prayer for everyone who reads this: “Lord, give them a good and refreshing Monday, and prepare us all to keep serving You, Your people, and a world that is perishing.”

Blessings to You in Jesus’ Name – David Guzik

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