Prayer Guide: Psalm 30

By Daniel Henderson

A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the temple.

 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
    and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
    and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
    and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.

6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
    “I shall never be moved.”
7 By your favor, O Lord,
    you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
    I was dismayed.

8 To you, O Lord, I cry,
    and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death,
    if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
    O Lord, be my helper!”

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

REVERENCE:

God’s Praiseworthy Attributes

  • Draws/lifts us up-  v. 1
  • Delivers us from our foes – v. 1
  • Hears our cry – vv. 1, 8, 10
  • Heals us – v. 2
  • Delivers- v. 3
  • Restores us to life – v. 3
  • Worthy of praise – vv. 4, 12
  • Worthy of thanks – vv. 4, 12
  • Holy – v. 4
  • Angry toward sin – v. 5
  • Enduring favor/grace – v. 5
  • Giver of Joy after tears – v. 5
  • Imparts strength/stability- v. 7
  • Merciful – v. 8, 10
  • Faithful – v. 9
  • Helper – v. 10
  • Imparts gladness – v. 11
  • Eternal – v.12

Possible Prayer Prompts:

  • I praise You Lord that You have drawn me up from…
  • Thank You for hearing my cry when…
  • I praise You for healing me of…
  • You name is holy because You are…
  • Thank You that You made me strong when…
  • Thank You for Your faithfulness to me, even when…
  • Thank You for restoring gladness to my life, especially after…

RESPONSE

  • I confess that my heart is broken over _________________ and I trust You to restore my joy. 
  • Father, I confess that in my prosperity, I wrongly believe __________________. Help me trust in Your favor alone. 
  • I have sometimes been dismayed and felt distant because I have ___________. Thank You for hearing my plea for mercy. 
  • I confess that I need Your mercy and help right now because…

REQUESTS

  • Lord, be my helper as I deal with…
  • I pray that You will help ___________ (name) as they…
  • I pray for Your healing grace in the life of ____________ (name) as they…
  • Lord, even though I am weeping over _________________, give me Your surpassing joy. 
  • Lord, by Your favor make me strong as I deal with…
  • Lord, I pray that by Your favor, You will give strength to _______________ (name) in the midst of…
  • I pray that You will give Your gladness to _____________ (name) and sustain them as they…

READINESS

  • Do not let the enemy of _________________ have victory over us. 
    • Antiphonal response: “Draw us up by Your power.”
  • We cry to You to deliver us from …
    • Antiphonal response: “We will tell of Your faithfulness!”
  • Even when we encounter ________________, we trust You for fill us with joy. 
    • Antiphonal response:
      • Men: “We will sing Your praise and not be silent!”
      • Women: “And give thanks to You forever!”