Christian Prayer and Fasting

O Lord, I cry out to you. Come quickly to me!
Pay attention to me when I cry out to you!
May you accept my prayer like incense,
my uplifted hands like the evening offering!
O Lord, place a guard on my mouth!
Protect the opening of my lips!
Do not let me have evil desires,
or participate in sinful activities
with men […]

O Lord, rescue me from wicked men!
Protect me from violent men,
who plan ways to harm me.
All day long they stir up conflict.
Their tongues wound like a serpent;
a viper’s venom is behind their lips. (Selah)
O Lord, shelter me from the power of the wicked!
Protect me from violent men,
who plan to knock me over.
Proud men hide a […]

O Lord, you examine me and know.
You know when I sit down and when I get up;
even from far away you understand my motives.
You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest;
you are aware of everything I do.
Certainly my tongue does not frame a word
without you, O Lord, being thoroughly […]

I will give you thanks with all my heart;
before the heavenly assembly I will sing praises to you.
I will bow down toward your holy temple,
and give thanks to your name,
because of your loyal love and faithfulness,
for you have exalted your promise above the entire sky.
When I cried out for help, you answered me.
You made me […]

THE SETTING: 
By the rivers of Babylon
we sit down and weep
when we remember Zion.
On the poplars in her midst
we hang our harps,
for there our captors ask us to compose songs;
those who mock us demand that we be happy, saying:
“Sing for us a song about Zion!”
How can we sing a song to the Lord
in a foreign land?
If […]