In the Flood, Revival

“Save me, O God!
For the waters have come up to my neck.
sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
am weary with my crying out;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God.

More in number than the hairs of my head
are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal
must I now restore?..

For zeal for your house has consumed me,
and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me^…

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
Deliver me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
Let not the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the pit close its mouth over me.

Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
Hide not your face from your servant,
for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
Draw near to my soul, redeem me;
ransom me because of my enemies!..

But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving…
You who seek God, let your hearts revive.
For the Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.”

“May all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
say evermore, ‘God is great!’”

“Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress…
For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.” Psalm 69:1-4,9,13-18,29-30,32b-34; 70:4; 71:3,5

Flood waters rise, suffering, reproach, injury, loss, and injustice threaten life and hope. In the choking deluge, David cries for salvation, waits with weeping for the heavenly answer. He knows where to turn and Who can revive heart and hope, and to Him he is tethered.

Praying redirects focus. Singing dispels angst. Praising God turns the heart away from troubles and fills it with rejoicing. How to revive the weary, parched, hopeless soul? Enjoin it with the Lord of Life and Light in constant prayer.

Are we sinking in the mire of disaster, grief, worry? What unease or threat in circumstances is causing us to slip into depression, exhaustion, or exasperation? Where are we parched in zeal or energy, inspiration or confidence? The Lord knows each pang, hears each cry. In Him we have sure solace and promise.

Will we trust the true rock for steadiness? Will we rejoice in His unchanging love? What will be our new song of thanks?

Good Father, no matter the storm, revive my heart, hope, and praise in You and for Your name alone. (Psalm 71:14-16)