Basing Your Prayer on God's Character
We usually only pray in frustration. When we are at wits end and don't know what to do se offer prayers that amount to hopeful wish lists with unfounded reasons for an answer.
David prays very differently on Psalm 86.
Psalm 86:3–5 (ESV) Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. 4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
David knows God is good and forgiving. Instead of cowering in fear, he's emboldened to come before God in times when he needs grace.
When David needs to know which way to turn, he acknowledges who he's praying to:
Psalm 86:10–13 (ESV) For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. 12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
At the end, he prays for favor, based on the past situations in which he has found it...
Psalm 86:17 (ESV) Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
This kind of praying gladdens the heart of our Father. To know Him is to pray rightly toward Him.
He is the Lord of all creation in the face of our enemies.
He is the merciful gracious God in the times of our failings.
He is ultimate Truth and wisdom when we are perplexed.
He is above all the nations when we hear the nightly news.
Most important, He is our God.
To know Him is to pray rightly. Charles Spurgeon taught that we should learn to pray with arguments. That is, we should express to God why He should answer us. It is not that He needs reminding, but we do.
Such prayer narrows our prayers as well! Gone are the weak prayers separated from His character and truth. Gone are the self-centered prayers tossed half-heartedly toward heaven. Gone are the prayers that don't line up with who He is and what He has already said He would do.
As this Psalm progresses, the reasons shift from David's need to God's character and faithfulness. You can mark each time by the word, "for" or "because." David starts with his situation in the beginning but ends with God's goodness in the end.
What a way to pray.
Perhaps it's time you argued with God, told Him that you read about Him in His book, and see Him answer accordingly!
David prays very differently on Psalm 86.
Psalm 86:3–5 (ESV) Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. 4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
David knows God is good and forgiving. Instead of cowering in fear, he's emboldened to come before God in times when he needs grace.
When David needs to know which way to turn, he acknowledges who he's praying to:
Psalm 86:10–13 (ESV) For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. 12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
At the end, he prays for favor, based on the past situations in which he has found it...
Psalm 86:17 (ESV) Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
This kind of praying gladdens the heart of our Father. To know Him is to pray rightly toward Him.
He is the Lord of all creation in the face of our enemies.
He is the merciful gracious God in the times of our failings.
He is ultimate Truth and wisdom when we are perplexed.
He is above all the nations when we hear the nightly news.
Most important, He is our God.
To know Him is to pray rightly. Charles Spurgeon taught that we should learn to pray with arguments. That is, we should express to God why He should answer us. It is not that He needs reminding, but we do.
Such prayer narrows our prayers as well! Gone are the weak prayers separated from His character and truth. Gone are the self-centered prayers tossed half-heartedly toward heaven. Gone are the prayers that don't line up with who He is and what He has already said He would do.
As this Psalm progresses, the reasons shift from David's need to God's character and faithfulness. You can mark each time by the word, "for" or "because." David starts with his situation in the beginning but ends with God's goodness in the end.
What a way to pray.
Perhaps it's time you argued with God, told Him that you read about Him in His book, and see Him answer accordingly!
Comments
Post a Comment