Psalm 40

0To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.
1  I waited patiently for the LORD;
  he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2  He drew me up from the desolate pit,
  out of the miry bog,
 and set my feet upon a rock,
  making my steps secure.
3  He put a new song in my mouth,
  a song of praise to our God.
 Many will see and fear,
  and put their trust in the LORD.
4  Happy are those who make
  the LORD their trust,
 who do not turn to the proud,
  to those who go astray after false gods.
5  You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
  your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
  none can compare with you.
 Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
  they would be more than can be counted.
6  Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,
  but you have given me an open ear.
 Burnt offering and sin offering
  you have not required.
7  Then I said, “Here I am;
  in the scroll of the book it is written of me.
8  I delight to do your will, O my God;
  your law is within my heart.”
9  I have told the glad news of deliverance
  in the great congregation;
 see, I have not restrained my lips,
  as you know, O LORD.
10  I have not hidden your saving help within my heart,
  I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
 I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
  from the great congregation.
11  Do not, O LORD, withhold
  your mercy from me;
 let your steadfast love and your faithfulness
  keep me safe forever.
12  For evils have encompassed me
  without number;
 my iniquities have overtaken me,
  until I cannot see;
 they are more than the hairs of my head,
  and my heart fails me.
13  Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;
  O LORD, make haste to help me.
14  Let all those be put to shame and confusion
  who seek to snatch away my life;
 let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
  who desire my hurt.
15  Let those be appalled because of their shame
  who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”
16  But may all who seek you
  rejoice and be glad in you;
 may those who love your salvation
  say continually, “Great is the LORD!”
17  As for me, I am poor and needy,
  but the Lord takes thought for me.
 You are my help and my deliverer;
  do not delay, O my God.

Daily Prayer (based on Psalm 40:16)

I do love Your salvation, dear Lord. Words cannot express my gratitude for what You have done for me in Christ. The thought that I am forgiven and accepted by You – on the basis of Your grace alone – is a dear one, indeed.

Postscript

The notion of continual prayer is one that appears often in Scripture, and in the writings of faithful Christians. It is a challenging one, indeed. Consider, for example, the counsel of Brother Lawrence in The Practice of the Presence of God. He said:

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Except for the Scripture text, all material of The Daily Psalm Copyright © 2006 by Mark D. Roberts

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The Scripture text used in The Daily Psalm is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved