Thursday, March 28, 2019

praying effectively: Trust in the Lord (Ps.115)

(Psalm 115:1-18)
 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.
Why should the nations say, Where, now, is their God?”
But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of man’s hands.
They have mouths, but they cannot speak; they have eyes, but they cannot see;
They have ears, but they cannot hear; they have noses, but they cannot smell;
They have hands, but they cannot feel; they have feet, but they cannot walk; they cannot make a sound with their throat.
Those who make them will become like them, everyone who trusts in them.
Israel, trust in the LordHe is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LordHe is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the LordHe is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless usHe will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will bless those who fear the Lord, the small together with the great.
14 May the Lord give you increase, you and your children.
15 May you be blessed of the LordMaker of heaven and earth.
16 The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth He has given to the sons of men.
17 The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence;
18 But as for us, we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forever. Praise 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 Israel trusts in the Lord (Ps.115:9-10)
- that all believers trust in the Lord (Ps.115:11)
- that we don't glorify ourselves, but that we give glory to the Lord's name (Ps.115:1)
- that we praise the Lord (115:18)

Today's prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your many blessings.  I praise Your name for who You are and what You do.  Help me always to be ready to praise Your name.  Help me always to glorify You through what I say and do.  You are the only God!  And You are the only One able to save us and protect us!  Help the unsaved see this and realize this.  Help especially Israel as a nation to see this and realize this.  Amen.

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