Devotional - 98-09-21 - Ever Sick of Your Own Prayers?

Psalm 2:8, "Ask of Me, and I will give the nations as Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth Your possession."

The Apostle Paul says in Romans 7:21, that when he does good, he still finds that evil is present within him. David, that man who was after God's own heart, said in Psalm 119:113, "I hate double-minded". Someone else was once heard to pray, "Lord, deliver me from all my enemies, and above all, from that bad man---myself."

There are several reasons why we might grow weary or even sick of our own prayers. One great reason, for some, is the struggle to labour on in unanswered prayer. It is hard to pray with intensity and consistency when the hand of God seems, to us, unmovable. My hope is that you, who are tired of praying, this or that prayer will continue to implore the hearer of prayer with fervency, reverence and confidence.

1. Fervency because all followers of Christ need to cry to God. We are in continual need of the care, protection and provision of the Lord. The more grace is felt in our hearts, the more the sense of want for more heavenly supplies will be felt.

   James 5:16, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

2. Reverence because of the respect who owe such a glorious Saviour. Psalm 2:11, "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling." While we are fond of speaking of the mercy of God, we must never forget that He is also a majestic God.

   "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence of all that are about him.", Psalm 89:7

3. Confidence because He will certainly hear us. We rely upon His goodness and power to meet all our needs. He is so gracious to us in Christ that He will do what is best for His glory and our good. And if something is not glorifying to God or for our good, we should not seek it.

   Eph. 3:12, "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him."

It may often be true that the prayers that please us least, please God most. But one thing every wise follower of God knows: pray they must. When we pray we enter heaven's gates and we fellowship with the Lord of the world. This is no small thing, and it is a great privilege. May the Lord make His church a praying church and His people a praying people.

"If you can't pray a door open, don't pry it open." Lyell Rader

Soli Deo Gloria,
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