Psalm 142:7 Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me.

The preface to this Psalm indicates David wrote it “When he was in the cave,” so the NIV translation seems reasonable, but the Japanese is generally closer to the original, and it says “Set my soul free from prison.” That opens this Psalm up to much broader application, because more people are in emotional prisons than physical ones. David has the right idea of the purpose of deliverance, “so that I may praise Your Name,” but it would have been even more effective had he offered that praise in faith before he was set free. I once heard a man talking about smuggling Bibles through the Iron Curtain before the fall of the Soviet Union. He was very nervous as he entered the room where customs agents had tables set up to check luggage for contraband, because his suitcase was full of Bibles. It came his turn, the agent had him open his bag, then had him close it and sent him on without saying anything. Past the inspection table, his heart was overflowing with thanks and praise, and then the Lord spoke to him: “This is the wrong side of the table.” Suddenly he realized that he should have been praising God in faith before the customs agent passed him through, and he was humbled. When we trust God enough to praise Him regardless of our circumstances, then our spirits will always be free. A song from early in the Charismatic Movement said, “Set my spirit free that I might worship Thee.” the lyrics are good, but we need to remember that focusing on God in thanks, praise, and worship is what really sets us free, emotionally and spiritually.

This is a lesson I’m still learning myself, and I need to teach it to those in my care. I certainly need God’s wisdom and anointing in that process, because I’ve gotten strong push-back at times when I have tried it. Some people don’t want to be told to praise God! It’s not the whole of our Christian walk, but Prison to Praise and subsequent books are very helpful in this area. However, praising God isn’t a free ticket to do whatever else you want! That said, so many people I work with are in emotional prisons, sometime deep dungeons, and trusting, thanking, and praising God is certainly the way out for them, if they will take it. I must not fail to speak the truth in love out of fear that it won’t be accepted, whatever some people have done in the past.

Father, thank You for this reminder. You know the people who came to mind as I wrote. Thank You that You have full deliverance and healing prepared for them already. Help me be Your agent in ministering it to them, so that the works of the enemy may be torn down, (1 John 3:8) for the deliverance of many, for Your glory Thank You. Hallelujah!