CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 885

“Slimy Pit”

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. (Psalm 40:1-2)

Psalm 40 is one of my favorite Psalms and it never fails to minister and bring me comfort and hope. I love the visual imagery of Father God leaning in toward me, intently and actively listening to my cry. I feel His strong hand wrap around my wrist as I grip His while He lifts me out of the turbulent pit of slimy mud that is threatening to suck me under and destroy me.

Have you ever walked through a muddy bog that literally sucked the boot off your foot as you attempted to take the next step? Imagine being chest deep in such a bog. This is a hopeless situation that you cannot get out of on your own. What hopeless situations are you in that threaten to destroy you?

The Psalmist speaks of waiting patiently and crying for help in the same breath. Patience isn’t passivity. Patience isn’t silently giving up. Indeed, the word in the original Hebrew for ‘patience’ in this verse describes the tension of enduring like a rope under strain. Ropes groan when under strain and I groan in my prayers to the Lord for help. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26)

The Word of God encourages us to ask, seek, and knock. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7) Jesus taught a parable about the persistent widow to encourage us to persist in prayer. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. (Luke 18:7-8)

I recall hiking in the Rocky Mountains above tree line and emerging onto a large rocky plateau. I can smell the fresh air and see the bright sun and crystal blue sky as I read about the Lord setting my feet upon a rock and making my feet secure.

Perhaps the miry bog that seeks to destroy you is sin in your life. You have heard of Jesus but have not repented or accepted His free gift of salvation. God loves you and Jesus died for your sins. Cry out to Him and He will lift you out of your pit of destruction and set you on the rock that is Christ.

Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust… (Psalm 40:4)