As many of my readers know, I have an ongoing relationship with an inmates' prayer group at Clear Creek County Jail in Georgetown, Colorado. Tonight's offering is an expanded version of a prayer I wrote some time ago and which my friends at Clear Creek prayed this past week. Because the group includes Spanish speaking men, my assistant (ChatGPT) translates the materials I send each week. I was struck by the Spanish for "Deliver me, O Lord!" which is “¡Líbrame, Señor!” In Spanish it's right up front: "Liberate me, Lord! Set me free! Release me!"
Deliver me, O Lord!
deliver me, O Lord!
From dwelling on my troubles
and ignoring all my blessings:
deliver me, O Lord!
From giving in to worries
and leaving hope behind:
deliver me, O Lord!
From delaying, wasting too much time
and failing to move on:
deliver me, O Lord!
From judging other people
while denying my own faults:
deliver me, O Lord!
From giving up and giving in,
to things that only hurt me:
deliver me, O Lord!
From telling lies and stories
when it’s hard to face the truth:
deliver me, O Lord!
From all that keeps me locked up
in the prison of my heart:
deliver me, O Lord!
From living in the shadows
and hiding from the light:
deliver me, O Lord!
From “friends” who are not real friends,
who use me and forget me:
deliver me, O Lord!
From brooding on my failings
and not praying to succeed:
deliver me, O Lord!
From all my broken promises
to others and myself:
deliver me, O Lord!
From drowning in self-pity
and refusing others’ help:
deliver me, O Lord!
From living in my pipe dreams
and avoiding what is real:
deliver me, O Lord!
From anything that holds me back
from trusting in your mercy:
deliver me, O Lord!
From grudges and resentments
that weigh upon my mind:
deliver me, O Lord!
From dwelling in the past,
now far beyond my reach:
deliver me, O Lord!
From nagging doubts that keep me
from believing in your love:
deliver me, O Lord!
From any sadness, grief or loss
that robs me of my joy:
deliver me, O Lord!
From false accusations
and from unfair allegations:
deliver me, O Lord!
From cravings and temptations,
from compulsions and addictions:
deliver me, O Lord!
From presuming only bad news
and expecting nothing more:
deliver me, O Lord!
From the melancholy blues
that sing a song within my soul:
deliver me, O Lord!
From whatever blocks my way
when I’m following your path:
deliver me, O Lord!
From anything that keeps me
from abiding in your grace:
deliver me, O Lord!
From chasing my desires
while neglecting others’ needs:
deliver me, O Lord!
From whatever blinds my vision
of the plans you have for me:
deliver me, O Lord!
From thinking I can do it all
- and do it on my own:
deliver me, O Lord!
From whatever curbs my will
and my courage to move on:
deliver me, O Lord!
From all that works against me
when I try to do my best:
deliver me, O Lord!
From any fear that keeps me
from the good that lies ahead:
deliver me, O Lord!
And from me, myself and I
- when it’s ME who is the problem:
deliver me, O Lord!
Deliver me, O Lord!
Apart from you, I’ll lose my way,
without your help I have no hope,
in you alone I’ll find the peace
that pardons, heals and fills my soul…
Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake
and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep rest in your peace...
Deliver me out of the sadness
Deliver me from all the madness
Deliver me, courage to guide me
Deliver me, Your strength inside me
All of my life I've been in hiding
Wishing there was someone just like You
Now that You're here
Now that I've found You
I know that You're the One to pull me through
(2X)
O deliver me!
Jesus, Jesus how I trust You
How I've proved You o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus precious Jesus
Deliver me
Come pull me through
Come pull me through
