Psalm 83: How to pray with boldness and purpose

By Priscilla

Psalm 83 (NIV) 


There is no motivation like a calamity or crisis to get us on our knees. And this Psalm is a bit like that. Its writer, Asaph looks at Israel’s enemies who are surrounding them, baying for their blood and he calls out to God in desperation.

As God’s people we do have situations when we face attack in our lives and the church as a whole – whether that is serious illnesses or outright persecution this psalm extols us to pray to God with boldness and purpose.

Asaph is bold in asking for the destruction of God’s enemies. He remembers past victories of God over His enemies and knows God is powerful to do it again.

He goes on to pray that the enemies of God would become – tumbleweed, chaff, be consumed by fire, be terrified by a storm. Pretty brutal stuff.

But what really impresses me with Asaph’s prayer of purpose in verse 16:

Cover their faces with shame, Lord,
so that they will seek your name.

He asks all those things, not only that they might be stopped in their wickedness but that they turn and repent and seek God.

We don’t pray hell, fire and brimstone on enemies – much as sometimes our emotions want us to – we pray ultimately that they meet with God powerfully.

We have great opportunities as a church, to corporately intercede for things that are going on in our lives, in our church, in the nation.

The worship team gathers to pray at 7am on Friday mornings at the church office. The next singers’ workshop on 15th May is going to focus on how can use worship and intercession effectively. And then there is Citygate’s Engine Room our monthly prayer meeting, which is great evening of worship, finding out what God is doing in our church and storming the heavens together seeking for breakthrough and direction for our church.

These are all great opportunities to put this psalm into action – to pray with great boldness and God-given purpose.