Text: Psalm 56, Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 18:1-8
You have kept count of my tossings, put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
Psalm 56:8, ESV
I’ll be honest. There is something about petitioning the Creator of the universe for my specific needs and desires that feels strange, formal and, well, kind of awkward. Perhaps this can be traced back to the “formulas” for prayer I learned as a girl, but more likely it is just a product of my ever-stubborn pride. Whatever the root, this tension is not God’s intent.
The God of the Gospel, the One who knows you fully and loves you still? Intimacy, not formality, is what He desires of us. And this intimacy extends even to our asking.
If there was ever a picture of intimate prayer, it is found in the gut-wrenching psalms of David. In Psalm 56, we find David seized by the Philistines, in danger for his very life. His prayer alternates between cries for help and affirmation of his ultimate trust in God. But then he asks, “For their crime will they escape?” (v. 7, ESV) The breathless desperation is almost audible. I hear honesty, familiarity. Not formality or formula.
In Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane we are shown the balance of a heart’s deepest longing, with surrender to the complete sovereignty of God. It is the ultimate collision of remarkable boldness and astounding trust, trust in the One who holds it all in His loving, omnipotent hands. He is the One in whose name we pray, whose perfect sacrifice grants us access to the very throne of God.
Then comes the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8, and again our minds go reeling. Is this how prayer works, the squeaky wheel gets the grease? Are God’s answers to prayer subject to His emotional whim? And yet, we know better. We know Christ speaks of us as beloved children whose Father delights in giving them all they need. (Matthew 7:11) We know the God who hears our prayers is the same who cares for the birds of the air. “Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26, NIV) So when we read of the widow who asks relentlessly and unapologetically for mercy – when we dare to imagine asking like children ourselves – we begin to understand that this bold asking is our privilege.
The pleas of an honest heart following hard after God are music to His ears.
Sisters, let us bring a chorus of trust and adoration and bold asking to His throne today.
I have been really soaking up this devotional on prayer. Who doesn't need a refresher? Yesterdays commentary on prayers of petition using Luke 11:9-10 really inspired me. I posted an image and a post on my blog concerning why we need to keep knocking and the blessings we receive. Please take a look at scripturesquegraphics.com
Todays post goes on to discus prayer in Romans 12:12. How the cycle of prayer, hope, and endurance works in our walk of faith.
It is a blessing to be inspired every morning by #shereadstruth and to know that so many other women are reading THE WORD.
I’ve felt like I abused His trust and couldn’t seem to keep the simplest commandments- why in the world would He want to hear me or respond to such a weak willed person? I thought I’d have to earn His love and concern! And all my ignorance kept me from having a relationship with Him. The occasional plea from me took a lot of gall and i’d feel ashamed for asking. Knowing what I know now, I see a loving Father who provided when it was needed, directed me from afar, waiting for me to realize He was there!! My ignorance robbed me of precious time and trust in Him. And Satan sure has done everything he could to keep me from the Lord. Now I am armed with His truth, His word- Knowledge is everything!!
I wandered in darkness, now I’m in the light of His love! I stumble in my prayers everyday, but my confidence is growing because I know He does love me and wants to fulfill His plan for me- a plan for my growth and happiness, and for His glory!! My greatest prayer lately is for discernment and to hear Him. Wisdom to teach my kids about Him to the best of my ability, to save them the stumbling about, unsure of Him being there and loving them soo much! Then I humbly ask for as much time as possiible here on earth to be with them and enjoy His magnificent creation… and He has been gracious enough to do this. What a wonderful loving God…
It’s all about the journey, and the beauty others contribute to that journey!
Sisters you all have brought beauty and incredible insight and knowledge to my journey! In just a few months I’ve learned more than I’d ever learned during months/years of searching and I look forward to gaining even more knowledge from all of you. Thank you SRT writers for well written and researched plans, they are a real blessing to so many!
Praying for blessings to all my sisters! :)
Thank you all for blessing me this morning. You have no idea how much I need this. Thankfully I have a God who does. TYL
"…this bold asking is our privilege." Two things stick out to me here. First, I find myself in a place of absolute dependence on God, so I no longer come to him tepidly with my requests. I'm honest, I'm clear, I'm "bold", in one sense of the word. But in another sense, I'm really not bold. I dare to lay my heart bare to the God of the universe, yet when I'm completely honest with myself, I doubt that he hears or will answer. Not because he cannot. But on some level, I think, "Who am I, that he would bend his ear to my cries or move mountains on my behalf? I'm nobody." And my mind is flooded with questions of my worth to my Father in heaven. @ Elizabeth and @ Carolynmimi put it so very well. Thanks so much for your words.
Second, it's our privilege. I'm so guilty of seeing it as a burden that I must bear rather than a privilege to come into the throne room of grace, and to allow the Father to mold and shape my heart until it resembles his. For that is what he's been doing to me during this season of trials and prayers of petition. Initially, my requests were self-centered and did not consider Him at all, but as time has passed, His heart has become my heart. Although I am still praying for the same things I was over a year ago, my prayers have changed and so has my heart. And now, I can have true boldness, because my prayers are in accordance with His will. 1 John 5:14-15, "This is the confidence [boldness!!] that we have in approaching God: that if we as anything according to His will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us–whatever we as–we know that we have whatever we asked of him."
I get what you’re saying about total dependence on God during a season of trials. I’m there too, but I haven’t summoned the courage & boldness you describe. Got a lot of work to do still but I want to boldly come to Him with every part of myself.
Mark 10:51 "'What do you want me to do for you?' Jesus asked him. The blind man said, 'Rabbi, I want to see.'" Praying today that when Jesus asks you, "What do you want me to do for you?" you will have the boldness and confidence to approach His throne with every part of yourself. And for me, praying that I will have the faith of a mustard seed. Lord, forgive my unbelief!
God hears our cries, knows our hearts, and will bring us through these trials. Blessings to you, @LaurenC_!
Realizing today that no cry, want, or plea is too trivial for God. Isn't it amazing that it has taken me this long to realize? He wants EVERY part of me, and that includes the tiniest little whim in my heart.
I've never been really good at praying through a particular order or formula. It doesn't feel sincere to me. Somehow I don't think that God is too concerned about whether I use a formula to talk to Him. I do understand how important structure can be for our human minds. It can give a sense of comfort and safety when we know what to expect. But God is not always "safe" and predictable when it comes to answering our prayers. Trusting in God takes a certain reckless abandon. We must be willing to risk our comfort for His best.
David was called a man after God's own heart and when he prayed it was often out of desperate need, spontaneous celebration, or honest, heart-wrenching confession. It came from an authentic place. It came from a reckless place of trust. God honored David for it. He honors us for it too. Risking. Trusting. Reckless Abandon. Sincerely, I love that.
This reminds me of Hannah, who prayed relentlessly in the temple for a son. God heard her prayer and granted her a son whom she gave up like she promised. Sisters, we know God hears us but everything will be done in God's timing and for his glory. He is sovereign and all-powerful! Rejoice!
Praying for all of you sisters. That when we doubt or think He WON'T that we know TRUST in Him.
How I needed to hear this morning that He wants us to come to him boldly. The last four months I have been praying for my broken heart and a broken relationship and have been waiting and waiting for some answers. I feel almost defeated and have moments of doubt. What stuck out to me this morning is that God is the God who HEARS us.
"We know the God who HEARS our prayers is the same who cares for the birds of the air. “Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26, NIV)"
I pray today that we would rest in knowing our prayers are not unheard.
I’m sorry for your broken heart and broken relationship, Amy. Relationships can be so hard. Praying that you wake up tomorrow with a real sense of hope & trust that answers are coming for you. Take care.