Prayer Guide: Psalm 27

By Daniel Henderson

Psalm 27

Of David

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me
    to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
    it is they who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
    yet I will be confident.

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter
    in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
    he will lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up
    above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
    sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
    be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
    “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
9     Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
    O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
    O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
    but the Lord will take me in.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
    and lead me on a level path
    because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
    for false witnesses have risen against me,
    and they breathe out violence.

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord!

 

REVERENCE:

God’s Praiseworthy Attributes

  • Our Light – v. 1
  • Our salvation – vv. 1, 9
  • Our stronghold/refuge- v. 1
  • Overcomes our fears – v. 1
  • Protects from our enemies – v. 2
  • Our confidence – v. 3
  • Beautiful – v. 4
  • Our shelter – v. 5
  • Our covering (safety) – v.5
  • Lifts us up – v. 5
  • Worthy of sacrifice – v. 6
  • Source of joy – v. 6
  • Hears and answers prayer – v. 7
  • Gracious – v. 7
  • Reveals His face/intimacy – v. 8
  • Righteously angry – v 9
  • Our help – v. 9
  • Takes us in (cares) – v. 10
  • Our teacher – v. 11
  • Leads us – v. 11
  • Good – v. 12
  • Give strength and courage – v. 14

Possible Prayer Prompts:

  • I praise You that Your light is greater than the darkness of…
  • I praise You that You have saved me from…
  • I praise You that because You are my stronghold, I do not have to fear…
  • Lord, You are beautiful to me because…
  • Because You have delivered me, I willingly sacrifice…
  • I shout for joy because…
  • I praise You that when I seek Your face I see…
  • I praise You that I saw Your goodness when…

RESPONSE:

  • I confess the I am often fearful about __________. Renew my mind in the truth of who You are.
  • Rather than the “one thing” of Your beauty, I confess I often desire…
  • I confess that when You call me to seek Your face, I sinfully seek ________________ instead.

REQUESTS:

  • Because You are my light, I trust You to deliver me from my fear of…
  • Because You are their stronghold, deliver _____________ (name) from their fear of… 
  • Help me trust Your sheltering care when I am troubled about…
  • I trust You to keep ____________________ (name) safe as they…
  • I pray You will lift up ________________(name) as they deal with…
  • Lord, hear my prayer as I trust You for _______________ and be gracious to me.
  • Help me to hear Your call to seek Your face so that I will desire You more than…
  • Help ______________ (name) know that You are caring for them even though they have been forsaken by….
  • Lord, today, be my teacher and help me to learn that…
  • Lord, as I face a hostile world, I trust You to lead me so that I will…
  • Help me understand and see Your goodness today as I…
  • I pray that __________________ (name) will embrace Your goodness even though they are facing…

READINESS:

  • Because You are our Light and Salvation we will not fear…
    • Antiphonal Response: The Stronghold of our lives!
  • We are trusting You to overcome the enemy of…
  • Even though the enemy comes against us when, ______________. We will not fear.
    • Antiphonal response: You are our Confidence!
  • We will trust in Your goodness when…
    • Antiphonal responses:
      • Women: Be strong and take courage!
      • Men: Wait on the Lord!
  • Give strength and courage – v. 14