VICTORY IN PRAYER

"Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me."

Psalm 35.1

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other

so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

James 5.16

David, the man after God's own heart, records in Psalm 35 one example of how he prayed so powerfully, effectively, and victoriously. 

There are four parts.

First, vv.1-3, David asks directly for help--"contend with me," "fight," "come to my aid," "Say to my soul..."  This prayerful meditation lets David see his enemy defeated in many different ways.  The Holy Spirit increases his confidence, courage, and faith in God's granting a victorious defeat of his enemies. 

Second, vv.10, David  again uses repetition and different ways of seeing the enemy 's defeat and his own deliverance--"be disgraced...put to shame...be turned back...in dismay...be like chaff before the wind..." and other ways of victory by God's power. 

The result of these visions create the realization and anticipation of victory with joy, proclamation, and ministry to strengthen, encourage, and comfort others who are in any trouble.  (1 Cor. 14.3; 2 Cor. 1.3-4)

Third, vv.11-18, David takes stock of how the enemy has effected him--ruthlessly, evil, forlorn, unappreciated, mournful.... Seeing more clearly what has happened leads to a more insightful prayer for victory, v. 17: "Rescue my life from these ravages,...these lions."  Faith, praise, and thanksgiving increase--v.18.

Fourth, vv. 19-26 describes an end, a full victory over, the power this enemy.

In conclusion, vv. 27-28 look forward to celebrating great and mighty things God that has worked into his life as he prayed his way through and out of painful and difficult tribulations.

He said (says) to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more glady about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardship, in persecution, in difficulties. 

For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

2 Corinthians 12.9-10