Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Psalm 21 (NIV)
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 The king rejoices in your strength, Lord. How great is his joy in the victories you give! 2 You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. 3 You came to greet him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. 4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him— length of days, forever and ever. 5 Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. 6 Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. 7 For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken. 8 Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes. 9 When you appear for battle, you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and his fire will consume them. 10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind. 11 Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed. 12 You will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow. 13 Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might.
When have you prayed and not received victory?
You know my heart. You see beyond what I see. You are in the future. You are the God of heaven and earth. I rejoice in your strength, I come to You in prayer and praise. I lay my concerns, my desires, and my devotion at Your feet. You have answered my prayer with unending blessings, eternal life, and victorious living beyond my desires. You have guided me in times of need. I believe that You hear and answer all of my prayers. Although it doesn’t always feel like it. Sometimes my prayers are answered in a way that I fail to recognize. Sometimes I ask for things that are not good for me or for Your glory. There are times when You say “NO” to my prayers out of Your great love for me. Your “NO” can make my soul stronger through the test, or makes me better equipped to sympathize and help others in need. You do not always give me what I want, but You give me what I need. Forgive me in the times I question Your wisdom. I know that You don’t make mistakes. Your perspective is eternal, and mine is very finite. Although I feel like some of the battles are lost, I can trust that You are in control and have already won the war of sin and death. Give me joy in Your victories. I hold onto Your grace, mercy, and everlasting love. Let me trust and follow You. Amen