The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 4:1,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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"Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer."
David asks the Lord to hear his prayer. Obviously he knows the Lord will listen to his prayer, else the psalm would be meaningless. David, yet again, is struggling and so asks the Lord for his help. At the end of the psalm, David acknowledges his confidence the Lord will answer, "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." Verse 8.
David, though not a perfect man, was a man of faith. As we read of David's life we see he struggled with sin, as we all do. However, his faith prompted him to seek mercy, forgiveness for his sins, relief from difficulties, and blessings from the Lord in prayer. David was a man of prayer. Not only do we share in David's shortcomings as a sinner, those of us who have embraced the Lord in faith as David did share his confidence that the Lord listens to our prayers.
We are told in Ephesians 6:18, "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." In Philippians 4:6-7 we are told, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Paul instructed his young protege, Timothy, "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4.
James observes why we should all pray, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16. The reason the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective is that the Lord welcomes our requests. John spoke to this, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." 1 John 5:14-15.
I love the way the writer of Hebrews encourages us in prayer, "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16.
May our confidence in approaching the Lord in prayer be as determined as David's was!
David asks the Lord to hear his prayer. Obviously he knows the Lord will listen to his prayer, else the psalm would be meaningless. David, yet again, is struggling and so asks the Lord for his help. At the end of the psalm, David acknowledges his confidence the Lord will answer, "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." Verse 8.
David, though not a perfect man, was a man of faith. As we read of David's life we see he struggled with sin, as we all do. However, his faith prompted him to seek mercy, forgiveness for his sins, relief from difficulties, and blessings from the Lord in prayer. David was a man of prayer. Not only do we share in David's shortcomings as a sinner, those of us who have embraced the Lord in faith as David did share his confidence that the Lord listens to our prayers.
We are told in Ephesians 6:18, "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." In Philippians 4:6-7 we are told, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Paul instructed his young protege, Timothy, "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4.
James observes why we should all pray, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16. The reason the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective is that the Lord welcomes our requests. John spoke to this, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." 1 John 5:14-15.
I love the way the writer of Hebrews encourages us in prayer, "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16.
May our confidence in approaching the Lord in prayer be as determined as David's was!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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