Friday, February 22, 2019

praying effectively: Love the Lord (Ps.31)

(Psalm 31:1-24)
 In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be ashamed; in Your righteousness deliver me.
Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; be to me a rock of strength, a stronghold to save me.
For You are my rock and my fortress; for Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.
You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength.
Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have ransomed me, O LordGod of truth.
I hate those who regard vain idols, but I trust in the Lord.
I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness, because You have seen my affliction; You have known the troubles of my soul,
And You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a large place.
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; meye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow and my years with sighing; mstrength has failed because of my iniquity, and my body has wasted away.
11 Because of all my adversaries, I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel.
13 For I have heard the slander of many, terror is on every side; while they took counsel together against me, they schemed to take away my life.
14 But as for me, I trust in You, O LordI say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.
16 Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; save me in Your lovingkindness.
17 Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, for I call upon You; let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be mute, which speak arrogantly against the righteous with pride and contempt.
19 How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men!
20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the Lord, for He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.
22 As for me, I said in my alarm, “I am cut off from before Your eyes”; nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried to You.
23 love the Lord, all you His godly ones! The Lord preserves the faithful and fully recompenses the proud doer.
24 Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord.
Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we fear the Lord (31:19)
- that we take refuge in the Lord (31:19)
- that we love the Lord (31:23)
- that we are faithful (31:23)
- that we are strong (31:24)
- that we have courageous hearts (31:24)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, You are worthy to be feared!  You are worthy of all respect!  You faithfully take care of us and supply us with strength and courage when we ask You, and sometimes even when we don't ask You.  Why would I NOT be faithful to You???!!!  As verse 3 says, you are my rock and fortress - my strength and protection - You lead me and guide me - "for Your name's sake".

"For Your name's sake" - - - You do these things because of who You are.  And You do these things for "Your name's sake" - those who are called after You... Christians!  Those who have chosen to be born again into Your family!  Your children!  When we take on Christ's "name" - help us to be more like YOU!!!  Faithfully following only You, because of Your lovingkindness toward us.  Amen.

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