I was reading Psalm 26 – what a great prayer model for times of suffering – times where I need God help – when I know that my suffering is not because of my sin.

This kind of prayer comes from knowing I have been totally forgiven by God.  In other words, I am brimming in confidence – not in my ability to do good – but in God’s ability to forgive.

Declare me innocent, O Lord,
    because I do what is right
    and trust you completely. – Psalm 26:1 GNT

David’s confidence came from God’s love and His faithfulness.

Your constant love is my guide;
    your faithfulness always leads me – Psalm 26:3 GNT

This is the kind of prayer that can be prayed by anyone at any time. No matter who prays, how they pray or where they pray it – the words are an active desire to act with integrity and enjoy a covenantal relationship with God.

This allows me to walk with others and pray for them too. When I walk with another and should anyone one of us fall, there will be one still available to lift the other up.

 If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him. – Ecclesiastes 4:10 GNT

The Targum paraphrases it this way.

“If one of them falls upon the bed, and lies sick, the other will cause his friend to rise by his prayer.”

If I am the one who is well and can help – I am called to visit, sympathize, speak words of comfort and pray with him – so that restoration takes place. It is even more than that – distress, poverty, falling into error, sin – for we can all fall into those ways along our journey and if I walk it alone and fall, who will pray for me?

 “If anyone insists on his own goodness and despises others…let him look into himself when this petition confronts him. He will find he is no better than others and that in the presence of God everyone must duck his head and come into the joy of forgiveness only through the low door of humility.” – Luther