A Prayer about Looking to the Lord as He Looks at Us

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and his ears toward their cry. Psalms 34:15

Precious Father,

We confess, in the midst of affliction 

we tend to turn our eyes on the trials and tragedies 

piling up before us. 

As we finish praying through Psalm 34, 

help us to see you seeing us, 

help us to hear you hearing our cries. 

We confess, we sometimes think, 

“well, I’m not very righteous, 

so maybe this doesn’t apply to me.” 

To that wayward thought, 

help us to hear your response: 

“Those who look to [me] are radiant, 

and [your] faces shall never be put to shame” (Psalm 34:5). 

Indeed, because our Savior who knew no sin 

became sin, 

we who look to him for salvation; 

in him, we have “become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).

As your righteous people, 

help us to look to you 

to see the many benefits you bestow on us:

When we cry out for help, 

you deliver us from trouble (Ps. 34:17).

When we experience “many afflictions,” 

we know we are in good company 

because of our Savior who suffered (Ps. 34:19).

When we face evil, we have peace 

that we will never be condemned (Ps. 34:22).

Lord, help us to keep our eyes fixed on you 

and ears sharp 

to hear your voice 

even as you have first turned your merciful gaze on us, 

your listening ears toward us.

In Jesus’ comforting name we pray. Amen.

Read Psalm 34.