Rise Up, O Lord!

“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.”

Psalm 18:16-17

I can utter no prayer

I can voice no cry

for my soul is weary, downcast

and I feel I must deserve this darkness

these shadows must be my home

and I wonder if I will ever rise again to see

the breaking of the dawn

the sunlight on my face

for the shame of things I’ve done

and the dreariness of each passing moment

caves in around me with each passing day

the destiny I thought I’d see

the wonderful world I dreamed would open up before me

is just that… a dream

never a reality

a besieged city I am

in my distress, I cry out to the Lord

please answer by setting me free

answer me

because the hordes of hell have encamped against me

the forces of evil they rise up

with wicked intention, to destroy my life

they seek me out to devour me

to accuse me

to remind me of my sins and how I fail

and I wonder if I will ever rise again to see the light of day

the breaking of the dawn

the rising sun and all its splendor

or the village at the end of the river

where my true love awaits

when the moon stands up to crush me

I pray

that the Morning Star would alight in my heart

and awaken wings of angels

to come to my rescue

Hosanna!  Come save me!

for I am drowning in this river

this river I thought would take me deep in You

it seems to have arisen around me

to swallow me

and I am crushed in its clutches

in such despair, will I ever escape?

will I ever be free?

will You come to me, in this valley of my confusion

on the sea of my storm will you say, “peace, be still”

rebuke my enemies, strike them on the jaw!

break their teeth

because, in this moment, I cannot lift a hand against them

I cannot raise my hand or utter a word

for I am frozen in my affliction

so tired, I am so tired of fighting

an enemy who comes at me, in waves after waves

upon the shore of my soul

Lord, please come, restore

robbed and plundered, I cry out, restore!

lead me beside quieter waters

lead me, Lord, I pray

be still, my soul, be still

rise up, O Lord, rise up!

with healing in Your wings

hide me in the shadow of Your comfort

nudge my side tonight, O angel of deliverance

break my chains, break them asunder

and drive them to the place of no return

for I am weary, O Lord, from battle

I pray, dear Jesus, restore my soul

if I am Your servant

if I am Your son

if I am Your treasured possession, the apple of Your eye

dear Jesus, I cry, take me as Your inheritance

draw me deeply, I pray

into the shelter of the Most High

in deep distress, I cry,

O Lord, rise up!

“Praise be to the Lord,

for he showed his wonderful love to me

when I was in a besieged city.

In my alarm I said,

‘I am cut off from your sight!’
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.”

Psalm 31:21-22