Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Psalm 142:7
Dear Jesus, great Lord and liberator, when King David prayed for freedom from his prison, he wasn’t behind iron bars, he was hiding in a cave. It’s obvious he felt pursued, trapped and alone. It’s also obvious, however, that he enjoyed great freedom to own his desperation and freedom to abandon himself to you in the moment. I begin today doing the same.
Because of you, Lord Jesus, I’ve already been set free so many things, so many slavish imprisonments—the penalty of my sin, for you were condemned in my place upon the cross… the fear of dying, for you have robbed the grave of its victory and have removed the sting of death through your resurrection… false gospels which are no gospel at all, for you have thoroughly convinced me that it’s your obedience, not mine… your sacrifice, not mine, your righteousness, not mine… that have not only made me acceptable to God, but his beloved child… a son in whom he greatly delights, sings over with joy, and continues to quiet with his love. So very Hallelujah, I shout!
Therefore, Jesus, I have great confidence that you will certainly set me free from other slavish imprisonments that still pursue and entrap me, from time to time.
Set me free from vain regrets… those haunting memories of what could have been and what should have been. I want to learn from the past, not be enslaved to the past. Your name is Redeemer.
Set me free from fear of incompetency. By your grace, I do a couple of things pretty well, but I feel so ill-prepared, underequipped and inept in some important areas of life… mostly relational. You’re not really calling me to be competent, but to trust you… and there’s a big difference between the two, a bridge only the gospel can cross…
Set me free from being defined by still-yet-to-be-healed wounds. Jesus, some things will require your second coming to bring me to complete healing and freedom. Let me be okay with that, even as I trust that you really are at work in this season, this moment, this broken man’s life.
King Jesus, with king David, I absolutely and humbly affirm, “you are refuge, and my portion in the land of the living… set me free from my prison that I may praise your name.” And do the same for so many friends that join me in this prayer today. So very Amen, I pray in your merciful and mighty name.