Standing on the Rock: A Prayer and Exultation
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. To the faithful you show yourself faithful, You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
The Lord is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth. For the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.
And the rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
***REFERENCE***
The words from this prayer and exultation are composed directly from the following Scriptures (NIV):
Psalm 61:1-5
Psalm 18:1-6, 16-19, 25, 28
Psalm 94:1, 14, 17-19, 22
Psalm 95:1
Isaiah 26:4
Deuteronomy 32:3-4
Matthew 7:25
