Transcription
King David was undoubtedly one of the most courageous men who ever lived. After all, who of us would take on a lion with our bare hands? Who of us would confront a fully armed giant with nothing more than a sling and five small stones? But what was the secret to David's astounding courage? The answer is found in scripture in what we have dubbed as King David's secret prayer. This magnificent prayer could well be one of the most powerful, encouraging, and life-changing productions you will ever come across; that is no exaggeration.
King David's secret prayer follows:
Most High, most holy, and most loving Heavenly Father, You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head. In peace, I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone make me to dwell in safety. Please rescue my soul; save me because of Your loving kindness. How majestic is Your name in all the Earth! You have displayed Your splendor above the heavens, and those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You have not forsaken those who seek You. But I have trusted in Your loving kindness; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I love You, O Lord; You are my strength. You are worthy to be exalted. I will sing and praise Your power, for You are the God of my salvation. For You, I wait all day long. For Your goodness' sake, O Lord, please remember Your compassion and Your loving kindnesses, for You are my rock and my fortress. For Your name's sake, You will lead me and guide me. I trust in You, and my tongue shall declare Your righteousness and Your praise all day long. You are my God; Your loving kindness is precious, O Lord; it extends to the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies; Your righteousness is like the highest mountains; Your judgments are like a great deep. With You is the fountain of life; in Your light, we see light. You are my King, O God. I have thought on Your loving kindness. As is Your name, so is Your praise to the ends of the Earth. Your right hand is full of righteousness. I will give You thanks forever, and I will wait on Your name, for it is good.
Be gracious to me, O God; be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You, and in the shadow of Your wings, I will take shelter. I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations, for Your loving kindness is great to the heavens and Your truth to the clouds. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let Your glory be above all the Earth. I will watch for You, for You are my stronghold. I shall sing of Your strength; yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your loving kindness in the morning, for You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my strength, I will sing praises to You, for You are my strong tower, the God who shows me loving kindness.
Hear my cry, O God; give heed to my prayer. From the end of the Earth, I call to You when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly. My soul thirsts for You; my flesh yearns for You in a dry and weary land where there is no water. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, for You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings, I sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. By awesome deeds, You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, You who are the trust of all the ends of the Earth and of the farthest sea. You establish the mountains by Your strength, for You are girded with might. You still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of the waves, and the tumult of the peoples. You have crowned the air with Your bounty, and Your paths drip with abundance. How awesome are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power, Your enemies will give willing obedience to You. All the Earth will worship You and will sing praises to You; they will sing praises to Your name.
Show Yourself strong, O God; You are awesome from Your sanctuary. You are my rock and my fortress. You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my confidence from my youth. My praise is continually of You; my mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your glory all day long. O God, do not be far from me; O my God, hasten to my help. But as for me, I will hope continually and will praise You yet more and more. I will tell of Your righteousness and of Your salvation all day long, for I do not know the sum of them. I will speak of Your mighty deeds, O Lord; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone, for Your righteousness reaches to the heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like You? I will also praise You with a harp, O my God; to You, I will sing praises with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You, as will my soul, which You have redeemed. My tongue also will utter Your righteousness all day long.
Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel, You will guide me, and afterward, receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on Earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Your nearness is my good; You are my refuge. I will tell of all Your works. You are my King from of old; You work deeds of deliverance in the midst of the Earth. Yours is the day; Yours also is the night. You have prepared the light and the sun; You have established all the boundaries of the Earth; You have made summer and winter. You are resplendent, more majestic than the mountains. Your way, O God, is holy; what God is great like You? You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. You alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the Earth. O Lord of hosts, how blessed are they who trust in You! Show us Your grace, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation, for You are good and ready to forgive and abundant in loving kindness to all who call upon You. There is no one like You among the gods, nor are there any works like Yours, for You are great and do wondrous deeds. You alone are God.
You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in mercy and truth. The heavens will praise Your wonders, Your faithfulness also; for who in the skies is comparable to You? Who among the sons of the mighty is like You, O Lord God of hosts? Who is like You, O mighty Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. The heavens are Yours; the Earth also is Yours; the world and all it contains, You have founded them. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving kindness and truth go before You. You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Before the mountains were born, or You gave birth to the Earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting. Your testimonies are fully confirmed; holiness befits Your house forevermore, for You are the Lord Most High over all the Earth; You are exalted far above all gods.
You, O Lord, abide forever, and Your name to all generations. Your years are throughout all generations; Your years will never end. O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty. How many are Your works! In wisdom, You have made them all. You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, and I lavish my praise on You. You are good and do good forever. O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven; Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations. You established the Earth, and it stands. Righteous are You, and upright are Your judgments. Great are Your mercies, O Lord; to You, I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens. Be gracious to me, O Lord; be gracious to me, for out of the depths I have cried to You. Hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. Arise, O Lord, to Your resting place; Your name is everlasting, Your remembrance throughout all generations. I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing praises to You before the gods. I will bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving kindness and Your truth, for You have magnified Your word according to all Your name. Your loving kindness, O Lord, is everlasting; do not forsake the works of Your hands. Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God; how vast is the sum of them! You are my God; give ear to the voice of my supplications, for my eyes are toward You, O God. You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Give heed to my cry; hear my prayer, O Lord. Answer me in Your faithfulness and in Your righteousness. I stretch out my hands to You; my soul longs for You as a parched land longs for water. For I trust in You; teach me the way in which I should walk, for to You, I lift up my soul. I take refuge in You; let Your good spirit lead me on level ground. I will sing a new song to You, O God; upon a harp of ten strings, I will sing praises to You. I will exalt You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name for eternity. One generation shall praise Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts. I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wonderful works. I will tell of Your greatness. I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples, and I will sing praises to You among the nations, for Your loving kindness is great above the heavens and Your truth reaches to the skies. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and Your glory above all the Earth. May my prayer be counted as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. In the name of Jesus, please give ear to my supplications.