Psalm 20: Verses 1-4 (NLT)
In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.
May he send you help from his sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem.
May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.
May he grant your heart’s desires
and make all your plans succeed.
I have read this psalm many times, but it’s only today that I have considered that David is speaking these words as a blessing or a prayer over someone else. I think that’s a lovely thing. There is no nicer thing we can do for someone than to bring them to God in prayer, and here we see David asking for answer to prayer, help and strength, and the granting of heart’s desire from God to whoever this psalm was intended for. Is this not what we would want to bless others with in praying for them too?
Sometimes we don’t know how to pray for others, and I know that people sometimes adopt the psalms as their own prayers. This is one which I would certainly adopt and use whilst wanting to bless and encourage others. Its also a reminder that David is speaking those words over me too. Its not wrong to pray for these things in my own life. I think this is one of the most encouraging prayers ever, and I might have to use it a bit more often in cards as a greeting and a reminder or encouragement to others.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the blessing of this prayer of David to remind me of Your goodness, grace and mercy. Help me to encourage others in the same way and may those requests be true for those who I love and interact with. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.