Psalm 34 Prayer

God,

We extol and praise you; we glory in you and rejoice that you hear your afflicted ones.  We seek you because we know you answer us and deliver us from our fears.  We know that we who look to you are radiant and never covered with shame. You hear those who are poor in spirit, body or resources and save them; you encamp around those who fear you and you deliver them. We taste and see that you, our Lord, are good and we are blessed as we take refuge in you.  In this world there are many cultural shifts going on at the same time; there is so much upheaval it can seem overwhelming.  But we know that you can use all this for good, for we who love you.  We know you prune your Church and her people for greater fruitfulness.  We know that you call us out of the darkness of this world into your glorious Light.  We honor, respect, and fear you, Lord, and we lack no good thing. You hear our cries and are close to us when we are brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. You deliver us and protect us; you rescue us and condemn our foes.  We pray in the name of Jesus against the spiritual forces of darkness currently trying to overwhelm this world - fear, depression, deception, division, hatred, confusion and chaos - and speak NO MORE to these spirits.  They will NOT have dominion over this world because we plead the Blood of Christ over God's people and Church.  In the name of Jesus we pray that spirits of courage, strength, peace, justice [not "social justice"], Light and Life be poured out in this nation and this world.   May we, your people, be boldly empowered to fight against these dark forces so that this world will be able to taste and see that you are good.  In the strong name of Christ we pray, Amen. 

Psalm 34

1 

I will extol the Lord at all times;

    his praise will always be on my lips.

2 

I will glory in the Lord;

    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3 

Glorify the Lord with me;

    let us exalt his name together.

4 

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

    he delivered me from all my fears.

5 

Those who look to him are radiant;

    their faces are never covered with shame.

6 

This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;

    he saved him out of all his troubles.

7 

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,

    and he delivers them.

8 

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

9 

Fear the Lord, you his holy people,

    for those who fear him lack nothing.

10 

The lions may grow weak and hungry,

    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 

Come, my children, listen to me;

    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 

Whoever of you loves life

    and desires to see many good days,

13 

keep your tongue from evil

    and your lips from telling lies.

14 

Turn from evil and do good;

    seek peace and pursue it.

15 

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

    and his ears are attentive to their cry;

16 

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,

    to blot out their name from the earth.

17 

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

    he delivers them from all their troubles.

18 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 

The righteous person may have many troubles,

    but the Lord delivers him from them all;

20 

he protects all his bones,

    not one of them will be broken.

21 

Evil will slay the wicked;

    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

22 

The Lord will rescue his servants;

    no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.