“My heart is confident in You, O God; no wonder I can sing Your praises with all my heart.” (Psalm 108:1 NLT)

“I will thank You, among all the people. I will sing Your praises among the the nations. For Your unfailing love is higher than the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.” (Psalm 108:3-4 NLT)

I love to bake. Something about the ancient rhythms of baking; the measuring, mixing and portioning, transform it into a restorative, holy task in my mind. When I read these passages this morning, I saw it as a recipe for rescue. The psalmist has carefully laid out the steps for us to engage our God when we need His aid.

First, the psalmist expresses his confidence in God. Sometimes, it feels hard to do so in the face of a new problem or pain. This is when past performance record serves to reinforce His faithfulness. As we examine our history, we recall the ways God has moved before; for us and others.

Next, the psalmist starts thanking God. We can begin anywhere; with those historic encounters we’ve uncovered or with the small gifts we’ve witnessed just today, along the hard path we’re currently walking. Thanksgiving helps us identify His sovereign hand still at work.

Thanksgiving gives way to praise and the psalmist doesn’t hold back. When we can begin thanking God, we haven’t a long way to go to start praising Him. As we count the seemingly insignificant gifts, big changes begin in our heart and our feelings start to catch up with our knowings. 

Lastly, the psalmist is ready to make his request known. He doesn’t hold back and neither should we.

“Now rescue Your beloved people. Answer and save us by Your power.” (Psalm 108:6)

This morning, I am going to apply this recipe for rescue to my own personal prayer need. I invite you, in your own words, to do the same.

Dearest Lord, I am certain of Your strength and love. I know that You are able and compassionate. You have never failed us yet. Even what has felt like failure in the past has always had Kingdom purpose in hindsight. I trust that will be the case again. I thank You for all the ways You have moved in my brother’s heart and body and life. We have each been profoundly affected for Your Kingdom by his story. He is not the same man who moved in with us a year ago. Lord, I praise You for Your faithfulness to our family, You have seen us steadily through some tough territory these past few years. I am sure that You will move again. Now Lord, please rescue him from this infection. One touch from Your hand could resolve the entire ordeal. We place him in Your capable hands. Amen.

“With God’s help, we will do mighty things, for He will trample down our foe.” (Psalm 108:13 NLT)