Prayer for Illumination
Lord God, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and Redeemer. Through Christ. Amen. ~Based on Psalm 19:14
Overview of Psalm 19
David proclaimed the message of God’s existence in what is one of the most treasured and theologically profound psalms in the Psalter. This psalm illustrates eloquently how God, the creator of the universe, desires that people know Him personally, not only through His creation, but also through His Word.
How to Pray Psalm 19
Using the ACTS model of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication, read through Psalm 19 and then pray the following:
Adoration
Look for anything that tells you what God is like or points to His character and give Him praise.
“Father, I praise you that you are glorious and that you are the sovereign Creator of the universe” (19:1-6).
“Father, I praise you for your Word and that your Word is:
Perfect, life-giving, certain, and full of wisdom (19:7).
Right, joyful, pure, and insightful (19:8).
To be feared, clean, eternal, truthful, and righteous (19:9).
My ultimate treasure and pleasure (19:10).
My guide, corrector, and reward (19:11).”
“Father, I praise you that you are my Rock and my Redeemer” (19:14).
For a video to help with praying Psalm 19, click here:
Confession
As you acknowledge who God is and adore Him for all that He is, confession is a natural consequence. This is a moment of introspection as you ask God to search your heart for areas that displease Him.
“I confess that I have often desired…… more than your Word.”
“I confess that the words of my mouth were not acceptable to you when……”
“I confess that the mediation of my heart did not honor you when……”
Thanksgiving
This is a time to express gratitude for what God has done and for who He is. Allow the Scripture you have read to feed your thanksgiving.
Thank God for His creation and the beauty all around you that points to Him.
Thank God for revealing Himself not only through creation, but through His Word.
“Father, I thank you that you that you love me enough to warn me through your Word when I go astray” (19:11).
“Father, I thank you for the reward of obedience” (19:11).
“Father, I thank you that you can keep me from presumptuous sins and that sin does not have to have dominion over me (19:13).
Supplication
In this moment, pray for yourself and others that you will be able to put into practice what you have read and heard.
Ask God to help you delight in His Word more than “gold” or “honey.”
Ask God to help you think and speak in a way that is acceptable to Him and honoring to Him in all you say, even down to the meditations and thoughts of your heart.
“Give me grace to trust you as my Rock and Redeemer when the enemy seeks to……”
“I trust that you will deliver/keep me back from the sin of……”
“Father, through your Word and through your Spirit, make me blameless, innocent, and free from sin” (19:13).
Hymn of Reflection
God's perfect law converts the soul, Reclaims from false desires; With sacred wisdom his sure word The ignorant inspires.
The statutes of the Lord are just, And bring sincere delight; His pure commands of living truth Assist the feeblest sight.
His perfect worship here is fixed, On sure foundations laid; His equal laws are in the scales Of truth and justice weighed;
Of more esteem than golden mines, Or gold refined with skill; More sweet than honey, or the drops That from the comb distill.
My trusty counselors they are, And friendly warning give; Divine rewards attend on those Who by thy precepts live.
Closing Prayer
Almighty God, I end my time of prayer as I began: I pray that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and Redeemer. Through Christ. Amen.
Prayer Guide written by Rev. Travis Johnson.
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