Prayer Is The Voice Of Faith

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (Mark 11:24)

But it also shows that we cannot pray in faith for anything that we like. In this matter, Jesus was “thinking God’s thoughts after him” and willing his father’s will. That sort of prayer, if asked in faith, will always be answered, for it is praying that God’s will may be done (as Jesus prayed in Gethsemane).

We can only move the mountains that God wants removed, not those that we want moved. “Moving mountains” was a phrase used by the rabbis to describe overcoming seemingly impossible difficulties; we must not of course take it in the literal sense. If we pray in this way, we can give thanks for the result before we see it, for the answer is sure in the will and purpose of God.

"Prayer is the voice of faith." (Horne)

Jeremiah 31:1-9

(Read Jeremiah 31:1-9)

 

The Lord, the One who has always existed, IS the One Who has always loved you. The Lord God is always loving you without any condition. You do not have to do anything to achieve His Love, He gives it to you automatically!! You cannot do anything to increase or decrease His Love for you.  His live is everlasting,

Have you experienced God's amazing love?  Have you seen His Love in action?  Have you noticed and seen the wonderful things created on this planet and in the heavens.  What greater love is there than that of God's love for you?  His very unconditional love!

The Lord is drawing you, pulling you unto himself.  Are you responding to the love of God who could fill the emptiness in your heart. 

"Love if the fairest flower that blooms in God's garden".

Psalm 1

He is like a tree planted by streams of water. - Psalm 1:3

The apostle Paul knew the benefits of good company, as well as the dangers of bad. He witnessed both firsthand in Corinth. The Corinthian believers’ faith was being harmed from spending extensive time with people who denied the resurrection. Quoting the Greek poet Menander, he exhorted the Corinthians to be careful of their associations. “Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.’ ” (1 Cor. 15:33).

On the other hand, Psalm 1 paints a vivid picture of the kind of company a righteous person chooses and the good results that follow. This contrast between righteous and wicked company recalls the choice between the two trees we looked at earlier. In fact, we can read this psalm as a picture of someone who chooses the Tree of Life instead of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This is the first of five images we will examine that symbolize the righteous person.

The psalm begins by describing the company that the righteous person, the person called “blessed,” does not choose. The verbs the psalmist uses show the progression of those who start down the “way of sinners”: first they “walk,” then “stand,” then “sit” (v. 1). What begins as a casual visit ends as a permanent residence.

But how then does the righteous person spend his time? In delight and meditation on “the law of the Lord” (v. 2). He feeds on God’s counsel. Together with the psalmist, this person exclaims, “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long” (Ps. 119:97). God’s Word is his good company, night and day. He takes it in to his inmost being by frequent contemplation.

Psalm 142

There will be times of deep distress when we are standing alone. For those times of loneliness and frustration there is a wonderful Psalm of David, Psalm 142.

David was in a “lonesome valley” when he wrote this Psalm. Only, his “lonesome valley” was actually a cave where he was evidently very alone.

This Psalm gives instruction to all Christians who feel like they are “up against it” or having an extremely difficult time.

The author is David. You know who David was.

He was the young teenager who stood up to the Giant Goliath when the whole army of Israel was fleeing from him. 1 Samuel 17:45-46

 

Because of this victory David became a national hero. He was then a public figure that didn’t let his popularity go to his head. 1 Samuel 18:14

 

There was a problem, however. The current king, Saul, had disqualified himself as king, and God told him that he and his family would be replaced. When David emerged it became obvious to Saul who that next king would be. Saul eventually became David’s enemy.

 

Saul tried to kill David on several occasions.

 

David had an enemy that he didn’t want. David did not try to hurt Saul in return. He waited for God to deal with Saul in God’s time.

David did eventually become king.

Now back to our heading. This Psalm is a prayer written in a cave.

David had to flee from Saul. He became a refugee and often hid in caves. Saul was out to get him, so he hid. I think it most likely that the cave referred to in this Psalm is the cave Adullam. 1 Samuel 22:1-2

It seems that David was alone when he wrote this Psalm. I believe it was written before his family and friends showed up. This prayer is one that might encourage you when you feel like you are in a “lonesome valley”.

David knew who to approach in that lonesome valley. He sets the example for us. He comes to God. Let us remember that this is exactly where God wants us when we hurt. He wants us before His throne. It is a throne of grace! Hebrews 4:15-16

 Vs. 1 – David was not silent in his lonesome valley. His prayer was a prayer that was made out loud. It was a burdened prayer that unloaded everything on God. Psalm 55:22

Vs. 2 – David poured out his complaint. He was not complaining about God. He was expressing to God his concerns. He spelled out his trouble to God.

If God is all knowing, omniscient, why should David or us tell God what the problem is?Bringing the problem to God is an act of faith. God wants us to trust Him. Another reason for pouring out your complaint before God is that He cares. 1 Peter 5:7

Vs. 3 – David’s spirit was overwhelmed. His problems and sorrow were so great that he almost didn’t know where to turn. You’ve probably been in that position.

David’s enemies, particularly Saul, were setting secret traps for him.  Satan works this way as well. That is why we sometimes get broadsided with problems and sin. Satan sets a trap when we least expect it.

Vs. 4 – If you are right handed, you want your tools at your right hand. You want your friends handy to help you as well. Perhaps this is why we have the phrase “Right hand man”.

David looked for help, and at that moment in time there was nobody there. There was no help available.  Eventually the help would come, but for the moment he was on his own.

Vs. 5 – There are two good reasons why David cried out to God here.

God was David’s refuge. He could always come to God for protection and help. God is always available to His children in times of deepest distress.  Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. God is also our refuge from our biggest problem, punishment for sin.

Notice in this verse that the Lord is our refuge and portion in the “Land of the living.” Christianity is not just for when I die. God is our refuge and portion for all eternity.

But God is to be my refuge now while I’m living.

God is to be my portion, my prized possession now while I’m living.

 Vs. 6 – I love David’s honesty. He needed God’s help, God’s assistance, and he admitted it. He generally wasn’t one of these people who tried to solve His own problems. He relied on God.

 Vs. 7 – I wouldn’t take the word “prison” literally here.

 We have all sorts of problems that are “prisons”.  Usually when we want to be delivered by God from our prisons we are looking for an easier life for ourselves. However David had a different motive.  If God delivered David from prison, David would be able to give God the glory for it! He would be able to give the praise to God for it. God would be glorified.

David was confident that God would deal bountifully with Him.  When someone does something bountifully, it is generous, it is gracious, and it is more than we need.

When God deals bountifully with us, He is generous, He is gracious, and He gives us more than we need. Psalm 73:23-26

Are you in a “lonesome valley”?

Learn from David and be comforted.

If you are not in a lonesome valley, you will be.

Learn from David so you will be prepared when that valley comes!