7 Minute Read

TODAY’S BIBLE READING:

Deuteronomy 11:1–12:32
Luke 8:22-39
Psalm 70:1-5
Proverbs 12:4

TODAY’S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Psalm 70:1 (CSB): “God, hurry to rescue me. LORD, hurry to help me!”

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY’S BIBLE VERSE(S):

There are a boatload of books at any Christian bookstore to help you learn how to pray.

But, you already hold the best book on prayer in your hands. It’s the Bible. And even more specifically, it’s the book of Psalms.

King David of Israel knew how to pray. And God told us that he (David) was a man after His (God’s) own heart (Acts 13:22). So we know that David’s prayers were pleasing to God.

Let’s look at one of those prayers this morning and see if we can learn some things that can help our own communication with God. We will briefly walk through Psalm 70.

(Verse 1) “God, hurry to rescue me. LORD, hurry to help me!”

David was in trouble. We are not told the circumstances of this Psalm but it appears that courageous David was fearful because of what others were doing to him (or threatening to do to him).

So, we learn from verse 1 that we should be honest with what is going on in our heart. Too many Christians are faking it. They aren’t being honest with the fears and anxieties in their hearts.

We don’t necessarily have to unload our cares on others … but we can and should unload them on our God because He cares about us.

1 Peter 5:7 (CSB): “casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.”

So, tell God what is going on in your heart. Cry out for help if you desire. God loves you and wants you to be honest with Him.

(Verses 2-3) “Let those who seek to kill me be disgraced and confounded; let those who wish me harm be turned back and humiliated. Let those who say, ‘Aha, aha!’ retreat because of their shame.”

In the previous two verses, we learn that we can ask God to administer justice upon those who have unjustly brought harm to us (or are threatening to bring harm upon us).

We see this concept in the New Testament as well.

2 Timothy 4:14-15 (CSB): “Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works. Watch out for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.”

While the Christian’s disposition should be to love everyone, including our enemies, we need to remember how Jesus treated the Pharisees. It is possible to love while being firm, standing up for what is right, and holding others accountable for their words and actions while calling upon God to administer justice upon them.

(Verse 4) “Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let those who love your salvation continually say, ‘God is great!'”

In the previous verse, we hear David asking that God would bless those who desire to know and obey Him. Essentially, he is asking for peace and joy for those who are God-followers.

From this verse, we understand that while it may be God’s will for us to remain in the throes of injustice, we can certainly pray that it would come to an end. We can pray that God would restore our peace and joy.

Certainly, we can experience those attributes in the midst of trials but there is nothing wrong with asking for God to end the trial. Then, we leave it to Him as to whether or not the difficulties continue.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (CSB): “…Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.'”

God gives us the ability to ask for whatever it is that we desire. But, as God-followers, we realize that He is infinitely holy and has His own good purposes for answering, or not answering, our prayers.

(Verse 5) “I am oppressed and needy; hurry to me, God. You are my help and my deliverer; LORD, do not delay.”

David ends the prayer where he started it – urgently asking for God’s help.

Friend, God wants us to be honest with what we are going through in this life. When you pass someone today and they ask, “Hey, how’s it going?” and you answer, “Fine.”, realize that such superficial conversation won’t work in your prayer life. God wants you to be utterly real with Him.

If you are going through a tough time right now, find a time and place to unload your cares upon the Lord. Maybe take a drive or take a hike in order to get to a place where you can let it all out.

If there is something you desire for God to do, then let Him know that, too.

Friend, if you are a child of God because you are trusting in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross to save you, then God loves you immensely. He wants you to enjoy relationship with Him. And true relationship is only present when two people are unafraid to be completely transparent and honest with each other.

Be honest with God in your prayers. If this is a new concept to you, prepare for your prayer life to come alive!