Rescue Me Prayer

Life on planet earth is complex, isn’t it?

I’ve been reading the book of Psalms almost every day since the first of the year. Some days I just read one or a few verses and other days, I read several chapters. Last week I read Psalm 69. And then I read it again. And again. I originally highlighted verses 13-18:

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
    At an acceptable time, O God,
    in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
¹⁴ Deliver me
    from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
    and from the deep waters.
¹⁵ Let not the flood sweep over me,
    or the deep swallow me up,
    or the pit close its mouth over me.
¹⁶ Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
    according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
¹⁷ Hide not your face from your servant,
    for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
¹⁸ Draw near to my soul, redeem me;
    ransom me because of my enemies!

Psalm 69:13-18

But then I found myself going back to verse 1 of the chapter and meditating on the entire chapter.

Someone once asked me what I pray for the most. It’s not so much what I pray for, as what I simply pray: “Help me, Jesus.” Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed in sorrow or overtaken in suffering, that’s my prayer.

Help me, Jesus.

This morning the Lord lengthened my prayer as a result of Psalm 69.

This “Rescue Me” Prayer is written for the hurting heart. The one that feels like you can’t go on. The heart that is pained so deeply that the simple rise and fall of your chest feels like too much. For the one who is facing circumstances you didn’t ask for or a situation the farthest from your dreams, this “Rescue Me Prayer” is for you.

Rescue Me Prayer

Dear God,

Save me.

Deep waters surround my soul,

And I can’t find a foothold.

I am sinking as life’s floods engulf me.

I’m weary and exhausted from crying out for help.

I can’t see you, Lord, for all the tears have swelled my eyes;

My vision is blurred.

You already know the sin in my heart; I give it to you.

You know that the enemy tries to destroy me with lies.

Even the people I love sometimes misunderstand me.

But no matter what is said to me, or about me,

My prayer is to You alone.

Lord, hear me in your mercy.

With your never-ending, reckless love delivered in your perfect timing,

Pull me from the deep and rescue me.

Don’t let the waves overwhelm me, or the deep waters engulf me,

Or the pit of death devour me.

Answer my prayer, O Lord.

For Your love never fails.

Because of your great mercy, you never give up on me.

Don’t hide from me; I desperately need to hear from you.

Draw near to my soul and redeem it.

For I long to praise your salvation with a thankful heart.

Amen

Based on Psalm 69

My hope is that you’ll use this prayer as your own whenever needed.

By his grace,

Rachel