Patiently Praying

(Note: St. Augustine is famous for writing a book called “The Confessions,” which he wrote completely as a prayer to God. In the same spirit, I plan to write these posts as a prayer to God.)

“Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment. Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high.” (Psalm 7:6–7, ESV)

Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies

Heavenly Father, it’s so hard to watch the world around me dissolve into a frenzy. There’s evil and wickedness all around. Injustice is everywhere. There is anger and bitterness and jealousy and envy and strife. Everywhere I look, it’s all I see. 

Father, we need you to rise up against these enemies of joy and peace. We need you to rise up against your enemies. We need you to rise up and bring justice. We can’t do it. 

We can try and try and try, but we can never change hearts. You’re the only one who can do that. You’re the one who can turn hearts of stone into flesh. You’re the one who can turn bitter hearts into joyful hearts. You’re the one who can turn angry hearts into peaceful hearts. So, Father, we beg you to rise up bring your peace and justice. 

Awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.

Father, I find myself wondering what’s taking you so long. Why haven’t you acted yet? Why haven’t you stepped in and done something? I know it’s not true, but it seems like you’ve fallen asleep on the job. Yet, I know that you never slumber nor sleep. I know that you’re awake and ruling right now. So, I’m begging you to act. 

Father, I know you’ve appointed a judgment in the future. I know that every human being will have to stand before you in the judgment. Maybe that’s why you’re waiting. Maybe that’s why you’re patient. You are patient toward us, not wishing that any of us would perish, but that we would all reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9). So, I’ll be patient and trust you, Father. I’ll trust that your patience is for the sake of salvation—rather than judgement. I’ll be patient with you.

Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high.

Father, in my patience, I’m going to continue coming before your throne, begging you to take action. I’m going to recruit as many people as I can to come before your throne. I’m going to call all Christians to gather around you in prayer, begging you to act and rise up to bring peace and justice. We will continue to patiently come to you in prayer, trusting you to act in your perfect timing. 

Father, as we come to you in prayer, I ask you to shape our prayers. We don’t know what to pray for. We may think we do, but we don’t. In the beginning, I prayed for you to rise up against my enemies, but after being reminded of your patience and desire for repentance, I’m changing my prayer a little. 

Father, I still want you to pursue my enemies, but I want you to pursue their heart. I want you to chase them down and change their heart so they turn to you in faith. I want to see revival break forth. I know that you, Father, are the only one who can do that. So, I will keep coming to you and asking you to bring it, knowing that revival will also bring peace and justice.