Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words (Psalm 64:1-3)
What is your first step during times of distress? What is the first thing you do when people try to cause problems for you? In Psalm 64:1-3, we hear a prayer of David, who cries out to God for protection from his enemies. He vividly described the threats he faced and explained that they were attacking him with not just physical but also verbal attacks.
Have you ever been attacked verbally by others? Many times, the words of hate and anger feel like they hurt more than even physical violence. David didn’t whine or complain. His first move was to go to God in prayer.
David’s prayer gives us a powerful example of what it means to seek God in times of stress and distress. When our normal inclination is to respond in attack or find ways to defend ourselves, God teaches us to get ourselves into a posture of prayer first. When we pray, we open ourselves to see things and people like God sees them. Prayer helps us acknowledge our protection and see others as the puppets of the enemy - not the source of the attack. “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). Your prayers can bring about change, both in your life and in the lives of others.
Practical Application
Think of individuals who may have wronged you, hurt you, or whom you find challenging to love. Don’t view them as the enemy. Pray for their salvation and deliverance and that God would change the direction of their lives.