O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before You. I come to You as the Psalmist did thousands of years ago. Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry. For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Shaol. I am counted with those who go down to the grave; I am counted with those who go down to the grave; I am a man who has no strength, like one who is set free among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, like those whom You remember no more, for they are cut off from Your hand. You have laid me in the depths of the pit, in dark and deep regions. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah. You have caused my companions to be far from me; You have made me an abomination to them; I am shut up, and I cannot escape; my eye is dim from my affliction. Lord, I call daily upon You, and I have stretched out my hands to You. Will you show wonders to the dead? Shall the dead rise to praise You? Selah. Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Shall Your
wonders be known in the darkness or Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But unto You have I cried, O Lord, and in the morning my prayer comes before You. O lord, why do You cast away my soul? Why do You hide your face from me? I am afflicted and close to death since my youth; while I suffer Your terrors, I am helpless. Your fierce wrath sweeps over me; Your terrors destroy me. They come around me daily like a flood; they encircle me together. You have caused to be far from me my lovers and friends, and my companion is darkness. [Psalm 88]
Holy Spirit, You know my heart. I ask forgiveness from and draw strength. I am not a man who has control of my anger and dearly need your guidance. I need discernment and wisdom so that I do not do foolish things and hurt the people closest to me. I need my tongue to be silent. I need to find peace, rest, and joy once more. I have been foolish, and I am reaping the harvest as such. I cry out to You. I seek refuge and I seek Your mercy and grace for no other will give these to me. I am humbled and tired. I have not handled the battle very well, and I have failed those I care the most
about. Help me to learn, improve, and regain trust so that I can lead properly. Let me walk with quietness and choose my words wisely.
Holy Spirit, You inspired Paul to write: Since I am raised with Christ, I will learn to desire those things that are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Help me to set my affection on things above, not be consumed or love for things on the earth. For I am dead, and my life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is my life, shall appear, then I also shall appear with Him in glory. Teach me to put to death the parts of my earthly nature: sexual immorality, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because I am learning these things, the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience. I used to live that life with them. I must now put away all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language out of my mouth. I can no longer lie to others, for that was part of my old nature or way, because I am embracing the new nature to emulate Christ, who has and is becoming my all in all. Thank you for being my guide and prompter as I grow in Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen. [Colossians 3:1-11, MEV and paraphrased by me]