WARRIOR PSALMS & PRAYERS
Psalms That Teach Us How to Battle
Psalm 144
Blessed be the Lord my God, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle; my mercy and refuge, me helper and my deliverer, my protector in whom I have trusted, who subdues the peoples under me.
There is necessary physical training for battle within the real sphere of the Lord God’s mercy, protection, help, deliverance and power. It is hard to train fingers and hands without training the whole body and mind. They do not act on their own but in coordination with my heart, soul, mind, and other parts of the body. All need to be trained.
Psalm 18
I love You, O Lord, my God. The Lord is my refuge, my strength, and my deliverer. My God is my helper; in Him will I hope: my shield and the horn of my salvation, my defender. I call upon the Lord with songs of praise, and I shall be saved from my enemies…He reached from on high and took me; He drew me out of the deep waters. He delivered me from my strong enemies and from those who hated me, for they were mightier than I…He brought me forth into a spacious place; He will deliver me, because He delights in me…I will pursue my enemies and catch them, and I will not turn back till they are destroyed. I will crush them, and they will not be able to stand; they will fall under my feet. For You girded me with strength for war; You bound the feet of all my adversaries beneath me. You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me You have utterly destroyed…You who deliver me from my angry enemies will exalt me above those who rise against me; You will deliver me from the unrighteous man.
Notice the “synergy” happening in the battle. The Lord gives strength, help, protection and deliverance while I pursue and catch my enemies without turning back. We win together.
Psalm 27
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assailed me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident of this. One thing have I asked of the Lord — that will I seek after — that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to look upon His temple. For He hid me in His shelter in the day of my afflictions; He concealed me in the cover of His tabernacle; He set me high upon a rock. And now, behold, my head has been lifted up above my enemies…Instruct me in Your way, O Lord, and lead me on a right path because of my enemies…I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be courageous and let your heart be strengthened; yes, wait on the Lord.
There are many surprising components to engaging the enemy. First, the primary focus is not on the enemy but on the Lord, His presence and beauty. There is confidence, not in my abilities, experience, or skills but in God – the Lord is my light, salvation (the one who saves me), defender, shelter, leader, instructor, foundation, refuge, guide. There is also a vision of the end – the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Finally, there is a commitment to preparations/training – wait on the Lord.
Psalm 35
Judge, O Lord, those who wrong me; fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help. Draw the sword and stop the way against those who persecute me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.” Let those be put to shame and confounded who seek after my soul. Let those who desire evil for me be turned back and brought to dishonor. Let them be as dust before the wind, with the angel of the Lord afflicting them. Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
A Warrior Praying
Heavenly Father, I come to You knowing that I am in a position where my life is in danger. I am stepping out into the unknown, and yet I thank You that You are with me in every situation I face and that my life is in Your hands. I trust You Lord, to stand with me in the days that lie ahead, knowing that no weapon has been formed against me that has the power to overcome me, that is not permitted by You, for Your greater purpose in my life.
Keep me from fear and strengthen me I pray in all the activities and duties that are before me today. Uphold me in all things with Your righteous right hand, so that I may step out boldly in the confident assurance that You have scheduled every day of my life and that You are with me every step of the way to overshadow and to protect.
Father, I take firm hold of You and trust my life into Your hands and ask that in Your grace, You would bring me through the difficulties that we are currently facing. Give me the courage to carry out my duty through the power of Christ, who alone strengthens me and is my sufficient strength for all my needs.
Keep me from all danger I pray, strengthen my heart and endow me with courage from on high. Help me in the midst of things to wait upon You and trust You in all things for all the decisions I have to make, and especially those that have to be made in the twinkling of an eye. Renew my strength like the eagles I pray, and help me to run the race that is set before me, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith, in Whose name I pray,
Amen.
Prayer For Protection
Loving Lord, we come to You to ask for Your protection on the warrior men and women. Lord, we pray that You would be with each one as they engage in the many and various peace-keeping and military exercises that are designed to defend and protect their homeland and country of their birth.
Give each one courage to face the future with dignity and honor, and uphold each one with Your righteous right hand. Be their rock of refuge and their shield against all the assaults that they are likely to face. Defend each one with Your heavenly grace and be their ever present help in time of trouble, their constant companion and their refuge and strength.
Lead and guide them in the duties that they will be required to undertake and protect them we pray, for Your holy names sake. May their strength come from You and we ask that You would make the crooked places straight in each of their lives. Draw close to each one. Lord, we pray that if there are any that are setting off for foreign fields that do not yet know You as their Savior, that You would put them alongside someone that can tell them the gospel of Salvation and that many would come to faith in You.
Bring each one home safely we pray from this session of duty, and restore each one to the families that they love. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.