Lord, Hear My Prayer

A Reflection for Monday, March 23 by Sara Simonds

Lectionary reading for 03/23/2026: Psalm 143; 1 Kings 17:17-24; Acts 20:7-12

Selected passage for reflection: Psalm 143

Read

Psalm 143, NIV

A psalm of David.

1 Lord, hear my prayer,

listen to my cry for mercy;

in your faithfulness and righteousness

come to my relief.

2 Do not bring your servant into judgment,

for no one living is righteous before you.

3 The enemy pursues me,

he crushes me to the ground;

he makes me dwell in the darkness

like those long dead.

4 So my spirit grows faint within me;

my heart within me is dismayed.

5 I remember the days of long ago;

I meditate on all your works

and consider what your hands have done.

6 I spread out my hands to you;

I thirst for you like a parched land.[a]

7 Answer me quickly, Lord;

my spirit fails.

Do not hide your face from me

or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go,

for to you I entrust my life.

9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,

for I hide myself in you.

10 Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God;

may your good Spirit

lead me on level ground.

11 For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life;

in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;

destroy all my foes,

for I am your servant.

Reflect

I started 2026 with the intention of establishing a Bible study ritual in my daily routine. I had recently left my corporate job and was about to turn 40, so the beginning of a new year felt like the right time to establish a routine that would structure my morning the “right” way. This was a grand plan, and the thought of a daily bible study felt daunting–where to start, what to read, how much time do I need to set aside in my day to be perfect in this practice? I tackled this like any good millennial, and I started doing research–what do others on the internet suggest that I do? What guides can I buy to help with this daily practice? I have asked friends for years for guidance on a bible study format, guidance on how to pray. In general, I was asking, how do I do better at this God thing?!

In my research, I came across a suggestion to read the Psalms. Start with Psalm 1 and read one Psalm a day. It clicked for me and helped me with this morning's structure, which I was striving for. Time with God is not something extra that needs to be purchased; it is not something perfect that must be done in an exact way every day. It is more about making space for God and the time in your day to pause and reflect. It is a time for you to Pray and there is no right or wrong way to structure your time with God.

Too often, we are afraid to start because we don’t want to get it wrong, but even one small step will add up to movement forward. Psalm 143 is a prayer for our mornings when we feel desperate, need a little more guidance, or face trials in our daily lives. There is no quick fix or bible study to create the perfect prayer or to become the perfect person; there is simply staying the course and trying again the next day. Prayer is not your chance to ask God for whatever you want, but it is your chance to talk to God and get to know God better.

It is easy to walk away from God or from a difficult situation by blaming God, but in this season of Lent, let us turn to God and acknowledge that, while life may not be easy, it is beautiful, and every day is a lesson that teaches us to trust in God. We will all have trials and tribulations in our lives, and this year has taught me that I need to make space for God and give myself time to reflect and pray, not protest and walk away.

Respond

We will all have trials in our lives, so let us learn how to respond and remember to turn to God in our trials, not away from God. This week, as you are experiencing trials, take a minute to breathe and turn to God with a heartfelt prayer. If prayer feels far from your mind, use Psalm 143 to guide your prayer.

Rest

Lord, thank you for this reminder that we are all human and we will all experience trials in our lives. When life is hard, remind me to turn to you. When life is easy, remind me to turn to you. Give me the grace to understand that others are experiencing trials and to guide me to do your will. Amen.

About the Author

Sara Simonds is a mother and wife in the Atlanta area who is an active member at Shallowford Presbyterian Church. She is a recovering corporate working mom and using this time to read the bible, reflect on the impact of religion in her life, and enjoy a slower pace as much as she can with two small children.