So often as I read through Scripture, I find prayers that seem to be offered in the morning. For me, that’s the best way to start the day – in prayer!
Today, I found one that I don’t remember reading before.
“But Lord, be merciful to us,
for we have waited for you.
Be our strong arm each day (morning)*
and our salvation in times of trouble.
3 The enemy runs at the sound of your voice.
When you stand up, the nations flee!
4 Just as caterpillars and locusts strip the fields and vines,
so the fallen army of Assyria will be stripped!
5 Though the Lord is very great and lives in heaven,
he will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness.
6 In that day he will be your sure foundation,
providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.
The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.” Isaiah 33:2-6 NLT
*(day is translated morning in many other versions)
“Make us strong each morning, and come to save us when we are in trouble.” Is. 33:2 CEV
How many mornings do I wake up knowing I need strength for the day? More than I care to count.
Some days it’s physical strength and others it’s mental or emotional strength that I know I need.
This prayer paints an interesting word picture for us.
When the Lord speaks on our behalf our enemies run at the sound of His voice. Like caterpillars and locust strip a field the Lord strips the power and authority of those who try to cause us harm.
Amazing!
Have you ever seen the blight that locust cause to a field or the destruction that a hungry caterpillar makes in a garden? Locust strip every leaf from the stalk and caterpillars eat so many holes in the plant that they are unproductive.
Now imagine our Father, the Lord of hosts, sending out that kind of destruction against our enemy, the devil, with His words.
“In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.” Isaiah 33:6
In what day? In that day, the day the Lord lifts his voice against those things that are harassing and intimidating us, we will be on a sure foundation that provides us with salvation, wisdom and knowledge. Our commitment to the Lord will be our treasure.
It’s faith in God’s word that brings us victory, the victory that overcomes the world.
I think this would be a good prayer to start each morning, how about you?