Psalm 25:21 - Hope Mounted Up!

Step 1: Pray. Select.

Today, as I sat down to pray, I remembered the song from STYX - Show Me The Way. It kept repeating like a broken record playing over and over.

I sought Bible verses about following the LORD and being shown His ways. I was led to Psalm 25. I realized in this chapter how desperate David is truly seeking, even begging for God, to show him His ways. David cries out that he will wait for his answers as long as it takes.

The verse that stuck out to me above the rest within the song was Psalms 25:21. So I decided to start my practice there today and moved to Step 2.

Step 2: Write. Read. Circle

Psalms 25:21 - May integrity and uprightness protect me because my hope, Lord, is in you.

After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out amongst the others:

• Integrity

• Uprightness

• Protect

• My Hope

• Is In You

Step 3: Re-Write

With a focus on the words that stood out, here is the personalized sentence placed upon my heart. Don’t forget, if you are doing this alongside me today, to add your name to your unique sentence:

• Jennifer, integrity and uprightness protect; my hope is in you.

Step 4: Visualize

The Holy Spirit is telling me that, through making difficult decisions in a day, I will be protected if I act with integrity and uprightness. This is my recipe for keeping safe, and I am covered.

While making and following through on tough decisions, it doesn’t mean that others welcome it. Whether it be our children, friends, loved ones, or even ourselves, following through on firm boundaries that uphold the value system between you and the LORD is extraordinarily challenging.

I feel the LORD is reassuring today that if we hold onto the covenant with him to do what we know is right or moral, which doesn’t always mean it is easy, hope will remain inside us that He will carry us through. If we compromise or give in, deflating our value system to appease others, we, in turn, are choosing to exalt a situation or person’s needs over the LORD’s instruction, it can cause us to fall out of the covering of God. We will never fall out of His grace since we are imperfect, and he is a loving and forgiving Father; however, due to our free will, He will allow us to choose to do the right thing or to stray. Our results will directly correlate based on the direction we chose.

The Holy Spirit brings Isaiah 40:31 to mind:

But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

I love this verse, and in the past, I have felt incredibly empowered by the thought of mounting up on wings like eagles if I wait on the LORD, but what happens when you have done the right thing and feel exhausted?

I moved to Step 5 since I felt slight angst in my prayer time today.

Step 5: Ask. Seek

The words that came to mind were:

• Holy Spirit, I have made some very tough decisions before, and I am holding on to the LORD and my values to see it through since you have always provided for my needs, but why do I feel exhausted in the waiting this time?

Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive

Here is the answer I received:

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. With this knowledge, you must not engage or contemplate any words that exalt themselves against the most high God’s instructions. It is not an option; it is a command. It is an order. This week, you have heard over and over the word - ORDER. The LORD has been warning you that if you do not stick to his order, you are opening yourself up with negotiating spirits that are not of God. When you align in this prayer time with your Father, he has sent you the verses to let you know he is with you and arming you with the sword of the spirit. You are tired because you have entertained the voice of something else, trying to persuade you to stumble on a footstone. Examine a footstone. It can be a small pebble, but if it is stepped on or stumbled over just the right way, it can take down a giant. Today, claim back the territory of your home, family, children, writing, and all other seeds God has placed in your hands to tend to. Protect your LOT. Let God burn down what is behind you and grow fruit along your path in front of you. Speak what he tells you, and do not engage with spirits you are not equipped to handle. Rely on Jesus and his words. Rely on the words of the Father. Fight for clarity, for this is when you are close to God. Exhaustion is not of God. God gives you life. So, if you feel weak, cry out to Him. If you grow weary in doing that, rely on worship music to carry you with the melody. Sing loud, praise and cry out, your Father is listening. I leave you with this today: 2 Corinthians 12:9-11 - And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. He hears you, so stay hopeful and hold onto your faith. He will fight on your behalf against what you cannot see.”

Step 7: Pray. Confirm

Heavenly Father, I come to you in the precious name of your son, Jesus. Thank you for your provision in calling out the things that have been stealing my energy. In my weakness, Jesus is strong and will go before fighting on my behalf! Wow! I am encouraged and no longer tired.

Thank you for filling me with your breath and giving me hope that this, too, shall pass, but your word stands forever and ever in my mind, body, and spirit. Let no weapon form against me and every tongue that rises against me be condemned.

I am prepared to stay close to you in all battles and cast out all demons and thoughts that exalt themselves against the most high God. As Peter stated in Acts 3:6 - Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus of Nazareth rise and walk.

So I come to you today, claiming back my ability to walk so I can run and do as it states in Isaiah: soar on wings like eagles.

In Jesus Holy Name I prayer, and seal this prayer with the precious blood of Jesus - Amen!

If you used the scripture of the day and need prayer or someone to pray with you, connect Here. Remember, you are not alone.

Step 8: Share. Testify

If you workshopped any of the verses mentioned above using the 8-Step Prayer Practice, we would love to hear from you in the comments below about what the Holy Spirit showed or spoke to you today.

Remember to spread hope and share your miracle or testimony HERE. We want to see how God is working in your life!

Conclusion:

Today, let’s thank God for the ability to realize when we are fighting things that are bigger than us, but not bigger than our God.

Let’s tear down all the enemy's lies and fill our mouths with praise for the LORD to drown out the lying voices.

God is with us, friends, in whatever battle you are in. I almost didn’t make it through this blog today due to exhaustion, but here I am. Renewed by the LORD through his word, wisdom, and revelation during my prayer time.

Remain hopeful! Rely on the strength of Jesus within us. We can do all things today through Christ Jesus!

See you soon!