My Savior and my King, I come to You on bended knee with my heavy prayer. I lift to You, O God, the restlessness of my heart and the weariness plaguing my soul. The enemy is prowling around in our sacred space. The tormentor is frightening the flock. The evil one lures Your own away from You, God. See the anguish of my heart, O LORD, my shepherd, my pasture maker. Forgive me for wishing I was a bird, and not Your sheep, so that I could fly away from the danger and find rest in the shelter of Your branches. How I long to be far away from the place I once thought was secure in You. If the enemy had remained beyond the borders of our pasture, I could have stood firm and found confidence in the boundaries set by my LORD. But if the enemy comes from within, if he comes from what was once my familiar refuge and hiding place, where am I to flee, O LORD? Though my soul is distressed within me, I will yet trust in my God and my Defender. When my heart skips a beat because it feels threatened, I will listen for the rhythm of the Spirit’s song within me. What the enemy means for evil, You, O God, will use for good. When the way before me is clouded by confusion and apathy, I will set my feet firmly upon the path of Your Word. You are my shepherd, Jesus, my guide and my protector. You will set my soul to rest in safety. You will massage the aching of my heart with Your presence and Your truth. The heavy burden I carry will become light in Your arms. All will be better as You keep me by Your side. Vanquish the enemy. Silence the tormentor. Defeat the evil one. For You are God Almighty. Under the Word of the Lord in Psalm 51:1-2 and the authority of Christ, my Savior, I pray.

Have mercy on me, O God,
    because of Your unfailing love.
Because of Your great compassion,
    blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt.
    Purify me from my sin.
Psalm 51:1-2, NLT