Dealing With Narcissists* – David’s Prayer for Deliverance

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One of the questions frequently searched by people that find this blog is, “how do I pray about this situation with the narcissist in my life?”.  This would include, “how to pray for the narcissist”, “how to pray for ourselves in the situation”, and “how to pray for God’s intervention”.  We have already mentioned David’s Prayer for Justice, and David’s Prayer for Protection.  Here is a prayer from David for deliverance.  It is important to understand that effective praying has some requirements – we cannot reject God’s ways on the one hand and at the same time expect Him to “jump through hoops for us” on the other hand.

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Psalm 40:13-17

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;
Make haste, O Lord, to help me.
14 Let those be ashamed and humiliated together
Who seek my life to destroy it;
Let those be turned back and dishonored
Who delight in my hurt.
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame
Who say to me, “Aha, aha!”
16 Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let those who love Your salvation say continually,
“The Lord be magnified!”
17 Since I am afflicted and needy,
Let the Lord be mindful of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God.

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One temptation which we may have when approaching God is to expect Him to answer our prayer all at once, on our timing (usually immediately, or at least “very soon”), and in the way we want or think best.   But, God in His total wisdom, knows much better than us the correct way to answer prayer – the perfect way, the perfect timing, and the perfect sequence.  He is lovingly orchestrating good (we could even say “the best”) for us and everyone else involved – including the millions of derivative or interrelated effects which are involved with everything that happens.

So, we must remember that just because God did not answer a prayer in the way which we (in our extremely limited perspective) expected does not mean that He did not answer in exactly the right way.

This is all part of truly learning the admonition in Proverbs 3:5-8

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Proverbs 3:5-8

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.

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  • Narcissism is the modern colloquial term for what the Bible calls “insolent pride” – see here
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