God Our Father

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know Your name trust in You because You have not abandoned those who seek You, Lord God (Psalm 9:9-10).

Awesome God, You are my hiding place. You have promised that You will protect me from trouble [too much for me to handle], and surround me with songs of deliverance. You said You will instruct me and teach me in the way I should go. You said You will counsel me and watch over me (Psalm 32:7). Lord God Almighty One, I place my total trust in You. Please, do as You have said.

Lord, an important part of my victory will be admitting that without Your complete intervention, my oppressor is too strong for me. I am unable to be victorious without You. Come and rescue me by Your mighty hand (Psalm 142:6). See, O Lord, how distressed I am; I am in torment within and in my heart I am disturbed, for I have been most rebellious (Lamentations 1:20). God Father, please help me to admit the part of my torment that has come from rebellion and show me my rebellious ways, not so that I will feel condemned and judged, but that I can confess, begin to walk in Your paths, and be free.

Direct my steps by Your Word, O my Lord, and let no iniquity have dominion over me (Psalm 119:133).

Make Your ways known to me, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; and I wait for You all day long. Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and Your faithful love, for they have existed from antiquity. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my acts of rebellion. Instead, in keeping with Your faithful love, remember me because of Your goodness (Psalm 25:4-7).

Father God, please help me understand that the loving discipline and chastisement that comes after rebellion against Your ways is only in the purest Father’s love and is never to be confused with condemnation (Hebrews 12:6).

The Lord will cover me with His feathers. He will shelter me with His wings. His faithful promises are my armor and protection. His truth and faithfulness are my shield and buckler (Psalm 91:4). Blessed am I, Lord God, because You are faithful to correct me. I will not despise the discipline of the Almighty! (Job 5:17)

Though You have made me see troubles many and bitter, You will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth You will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again (Psalm 71:21), because it is Your nature to be a loving Father. Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? I choose to put my hope in my God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God (Psalm 42:5-6). Therefore when my soul is downcast within me, I will remember Your kindnesses, O gracious Lord.