A Fourfold Prayer

Song: I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Scripture: Psalm 26

The Psalms are the meditations of godly men. The fact that they are inspired means that they are petitions worthy of our imitation. Four requests are made in Psalm 26 which we might well echo.

1. Vindicate me. This is a request for your innocence to be proven, for others to know that your plans and reasons are right. Be careful about vindicating yourself. You’re apt to go too far. It’s better to leave vindication up to the Lord.

2. Try me. This a prayer for the Lord to search your heart, to inspect your deepest thoughts and purposes and affections. You should make this prayer at least twice a day—morning and night.

3. Do not gather my soul with sinners. “Don’t lump me together with the wicked,” is what David is asking. Pray for good companions and request the wisdom to be a good companion
yourself.

4. Redeem me. Here is a plea for deliverance, salvation from temptation, from trials, from wicked men, from Satan, from sin and death. We should make use of this prayer frequently. The man who goes a day without it should review his spirituality.

Include these sentiments of David in your prayer for today and in your plans for tomorrow. They’ll help keep your heart in the right place, your feet on the right path, and your eyes on the right goal. They’ll keep you close to the Lord.

Jason Moore