He sees and knows all the way you have trod;
Never alone are the least of His children;
Have faith in God, have faith in God.
Have faith in God, He’s on His throne;
Have faith in God, He watches o’er His own;
He cannot fail, He must prevail;
Have faith in God, have faith in God.
-Author Unknown
Prayer is foundational for everything in the life of believers and the church. We pray because God has put into the heart of every person the yearning to know Him. We pray to reach out to Him in times of need. And, we pray to desire His assistance.
Unfortunately, many adults today approach prayer with more doubts than convictions.They doubt they are praying correctly, doubt God will hear and answer their prayers. In other words, they lack confidence when praying. Friends, I am telling you that praying with confidence begins by learning to focus our prayers on who God is. Confidence in prayer is not self-confidence, but God-confidence!
If you have your Bible handy, read Psalm 86:1-5. See how David prayed? In fact, David wrote several chapters in the Book of Psalm regarding prayer. He wrote Psalm 4, 6, 7, and Psalm 51, as well. To pray confidently, we must approach God humbly like David. He humbly called on God to “listen” to him and answer his prayer (Psalm 86:1). He asked God to “bow down thine ear” so he could listen to him.
David’s prayer in these verses indicated three things. First, He knew God cared for him. Second, he expresses his need for God. And third, He told God he was “poor and needy” (Psalm 86:1). What is important here is David believed God would listen to his prayer, and respond in a way that would be consistent with the Lord’s purpose in his life.
I suggest that the following 3 factors in David’s prayers should be a part of our prayer lives today, as well:
-We need to apply them to something we presently face.
-We need to lift up to him needs (not wants) that only He can meet.
-We need to believe that He will meet those needs in a way that is consistent with His plan in our lives.
Think for a moment of an issue, or problem in your life you need to pray to God about;
- It could be retirement
- Your livelihood
- Your health or the health of someone in your family
- A family situation
- A need in some relationship
- Your place in our church (serving the Lord)
- Your witness (or lack of witness) for Christ
David in these verses asked God to do six things for him in his prayer;
- To “bow down thine ear” (or listen to him) - Psalm 86:1
- To hear him - Psalm 86:1
- To “preserve my soul” (or protect him) - Psalm 86:2
- To “save thy servant” - Psalm 86:2
- To “be merciful” to him - Psalm 86:3
- To “rejoice” his soul (bring him joy) - Psalm 86:4
In verse 5 David gave three reasons for his confidence in his prayer to God;
- He believed that God was good (kind)
- He believed that God was ready to forgive
- He believed that God was plenteous in mercy (abundant if faithful love)
Like David, each of us when we pray need to pray with the same confidence of David. Praying with confidence that we are talking to a loving God. A God that is always near to us; who listens to our prayers. A God who is ready to forgive, and is worthy of our complete trust.
Now, read Psalm 86: 6-10. See if you can get a feel for the response David expected to his prayers. David was confident in these verses that God would hear and answer his prayers. He prayed to God daily, not just in his times of trouble. He prayed to God to express his gratitude. He prayed to communicate with God. And, He prayed to intercede with others. Sadly today, some people see prayer like a spare tire on their car. It’s forgotten most of the time, and/or it’s used only in cases of emergencies.
Look at verses 6 and 7. Notice that David’s prayer was a prayer of petition. He asked God again to hear his prayer. He asked God to listen to his plea for mercy. David acknowledged he was calling on God in his day of trouble. And, he knew that God would answer him. Then notice that beginning with verse 8, David changed his prayer of petition to a prayer of praise to God. He says:
- There is no one like you among the Gods (Psalm 86:8)
- There are no works like Yours (Psalm 86:8)
- All nations You have made will come and bow down (Psalm 86:9)
- All nations will also honor Your name (Psalm 86:9)
- You are great and perform wonders (Psalm 86:10)
The good news is that as believers, we also can pray with confidence that God will hear and respond to us. We can pray that He remembers what He has done for us in the past. And pray with confidence to bring our requests to Him in the present. Praying this way, we are assured of His faithfulness, which adds power to our prayers
Finally, in Psalm 86: 11-13, read how David expected to be delivered. All of us need to have confidence in God’s ways so we can live as He desires. We too can join David in expressing our desire to walk in God’s ways to live in a closer relationship with Him; continually praise Him; keep living in His love; and anticipate experiencing His full deliverance and guidance.
David’s prayer challenges us to make our purpose single-minded faithfulness to God includes worshiping, serving, and obeying Him. Our highest aspiration should be that we live in devotion to Him; to honor Him; and to glorify Him.
In conclusion, we pray with power when our aim is to honor God. We need to ask God to reveal to us anything in our lives that dishonors Him. We need to pray for greater faithfulness to Him. In the spiritual discipline of prayer we can be confident, but never presumptuous. Presumption assumes God is duty-bound to give us what we ask. On the other hand, confidence is the assurance faith gives that God will do what is best for us and achieve His purpose through us.
Often, if we are not careful, we want to follow our agenda for our lives, not God’s. But keep in mind that presumptuous prayer is spiritual conceit. And remember that confident prayer is based in the realization that the Creator of the universe knows us, loves us, and invites us to talk to Him. And that prayer, plain and simple, is a gift of sheer grace.
Now, let's pray...
O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for in thy name's sake. Amen
Have a blessed week!
Bibi
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