Praying for Freedom

Psalm 142:7a

Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name.

My favorite type of run is the long, easy run. It is meditative to me, and I find it easy to see God’s glory in the area around me. It is effortless to worship God on a run like that.

When I am running my hardest, though, I do not find it as easy to praise God. If I am really struggling, I may not think of Him at all except to plea to Him for help.

Being in such a desperate physical state is like being temporarily imprisoned. There is no freedom until the run is over. But even the hardest workout or race eventually comes to an end and then the relief and rejoicing begin.  

Some prisons, though, do not come with quick relief. These are the mental, emotional, and spiritual prisons. It’s when a giant problem looms with no end in sight, no solution that seems possible. Since I had back surgery in December, I often feel this way. I have lingering back pain and I find myself struggling with worry: I worry that I won’t be able to run again. I worry that I will spend my life in pain.

Struggling in this way certainly does not feel temporary when I am in it.  And filling my time with worry and doubt takes the place of worshipping God. So what can I do if I feel imprisoned? How can I possibly escape my sentence of fear, doubt, worry, and despair, and turn instead to praising God?

David, the author of today’s Bible verse, leads us with his example. When he wrote this psalm, he was in desperate need as people pursued him to take his life. But David was completely honest in his plea. He knew he was incapable of praising the God without His help. And yet he knew that praising God would be a comfort to him. Thus, he asked God to set him free from his prison so that he could praise Him. He prayed that God would open his heart, despite his circumstances. God heard David and answered his prayer.  

God knows us and our situations, and He hears our prayers just as He heard David’s. God is amazingly willing and sufficiently able to free us from our prisons. What imprisons you today? Let’s pray that God will turn set us free and set our hearts to praising Him.

Father, I am in a place of inescapable trouble. I see no way out and no chance for hope. My prison prohibits me from praising You and Your holy name. Lord God, You are infinitely bigger than the problem that enslaves me. Please free me from my prison, that I may praise Your name. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.