A prayer based upon my  Psalm reading that I prayed the day after Hurricane Katrina. May the Lord do the same for us in Tuscaloosa.

Heavenly Father,
Psalm 140:7-8 says: O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot or they will be exalted! Selah

You are our strength and our salvation.  Would you fulfill these words today for our armed forces around the world –  cover their heads in the day of battle?  Hinder the evil plots of terrorists around the world.  May there be in-fighting, confusion, disorder and mayhem among them.  Simply frustrate and foil all of their attempts to kill, steal, and destroy like their father the devil.

Fulfill these verses for us today as our country wakes up to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.  Cover the hearts and minds of your people today with an overwhelming sense of your presence and your peace.  May those playing the prodigal come home to you and see that no one can withstand your power.  I would especially pray this for our young people.

140:12 – I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Thank you Father that you do take up the cause of those who are afflicted and needy.  Do so today with all who have lost loved ones, friends, homes, property, and all their earthly possessions.

141: 3 – Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
4Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!

Lord, I desperately need your vigilance and watchful care over my mouth.  You have called me to preach, teach, counsel, evangelize, and disciple.  All of this involves speaking and talking.  When words multiply, transgressions increase.

141:8 – But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!  Give all of our governmental leaders this grace gift today –  to fix their eyes upon you, your greatness, your goodness, your mercy, your intention to do them good and not evil.  Be their refuge.
142:3 – When my spirit faints within me…there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul.  Lord, show me those in our midst who are fainting, growing weary, and are feeling that no one cares.  Give all of the leaders of our church the diligence and grace to pursue all those people and care for their souls.

143:5-6 – I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.
I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
Create in every person of our church family an intense thirst for you.  Give them all the grace to remember, to meditate, to ponder and to know who you are and what you have done for us in Christ.  Make them passionate worshippers of you.  May you alone quench their thirst and nothing else.

143:8- Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust.  Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 10Teach me to do your will, for you are my God!  Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! Today, as our elders at Trinity Church awake, may they hear in their souls of the sweet sound of your covenantal, loyal, unfailing, persistent love in Christ.  Give them grace today to trust you and not to lean on their own understanding.  Guide and teach them to do your will.  Surprise and overwhelm us with your goodness and your provision.

144:15 – Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!  I assume that the opposite is true as well.  Cursed are the people whose god is anything or anyone else other than the Lord.  Lord, do not give us over to the lusts of our eyes, the lusts of our flesh, and the boastful pride of life.  May you be exalted as LORD in our country and community today.