Today, have you been awakened by a keen sense of your own weakness? Do you find yourself greatly troubled by both the devilish world and your own sinful flesh? Have you hit a wall? Have you again placed your trust in idols, only to find yourself discouraged and even dismayed? Oh friends, do you find yourself like me?
Well my fellow strugglers, let’s go together to the scriptures and allow our troubled thoughts to be transformed by our Almighty God.
In Psalm 20, David leads us in prayer:
May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah
May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. O Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call.
Friends, it is time to pray. It is time to take our cares to the Lord who promises to answer us in our day of trouble. He has never failed us before, and he’s not going to start today.
Let’s meditate first upon God’s name and characteristics. He is Yahweh — the God of Jacob. He is the Eternal Creator who sovereignly selects sinners, showers them with undeserved grace, makes fantastic promises, and always delivers. He is the Great I AM. He is the one who vanquished Pharaoh and Satan, and he is the one who protects you.
In the past, he has received our offerings and sacrifices. Because of our being united with Christ, they have been greatly enjoyed by him. And right now, he finds himself incredibly pleasured by our Spirit-inspired, Christ-perfected prayer. Do you see what he is doing? Right now, from his heavenly sanctuary and holy Zion, he is smiling. Right now, he is drawing near to us. Yes, right now, he is coming to help and support.
Therefore, whatever is on our hearts — ask away. God already knows our desires and plans. And quite often, in accordance with his wisdom and love, he grants us our passionate pleas. However, we can even rejoice when he does not come through with a “yes.” For when he says “wait” or “no,” it is always because our Father knows it is not wise, loving, and best to say “yes.” Therefore, with bold confidence and Son-like submission, we ask away. Tell him what we desire. He’s listening.
And now, it is time to worship — loudly! Regardless of our troubles, and regardless of our sins, he is the one who has already saved us from our wretched condition and future hell. He, who has been our greatest possible enemy, has made us his friend, child, and bride. Therefore, even in the midst of trial, it is time to sing and dance. It is time to kick it up a notch, shout, and raise our banners and flags. Yes, he is allowing us to suffer now, but he has saved us from suffering forever. And he, who saved his Anointed (Jesus Christ) from the cross and tomb, continues to save his anointed (you and me) from the devil, the devil’s world, and our devilish flesh. He does so from his holy heaven. He does so with the omniscient might of his right hand.
Therefore, though we find ourselves in our current day of trouble, we should find ourselves tremendously encouraged by meditating upon the Word (King Jesus) and his words. And we, who are currently repenting of placing our foolish confidence in our false idols, we are finding joy in our Groom. Yes, in the past we may have trusted in …
- Chariots and horses
- Skills
- Intellect
- Possessions
- Family members and friends
- Leaders, politicians, parties, institutions, and systems
- Elders and churches
But no more — at least for right now. For the moment we are joyfully repenting and trusting in the name of the Lord our God. He is the one who never fails. He is the one who never collapses and falls. He is the one who causes us to rise and stand upright. He is the King, and he always answers when we call.
For some further encouragement, click on the link below and enjoy praying to your Father with musical assistance. I loved this version of “O Praise the Name.” It surprised me and encouraged my soul.
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/uudsFumB8J0
Unfathomable Grace 