When you are pained and full of sorrows, do not keep this to yourself. Remember that God knows what you are going through and He never wants you to suffer. He wants to bring peace into your life, if you would just give Him a chance. Will you reach for the Lord, this day? Call upon the name of the Lord and ask for His hand, this very hour. Draw near unto Him and he will draw near unto you. Incline thine ear to Him, and He will come. David was anguished because of all his sins. However, he wanted to be free from his iniquities. The thoughts of what he had done was too hard to bear. Hear his prayer, 2“O lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry.” Though he was racked with fear, his sorrows were met with the Lord. He could see that his time could be coming to an end. He needed reassurance that the Lord forgave him. In his prayer, he said, 2“my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength.” His heart was racing but still he spoke from the heart, that God may hear him. Calling upon God, he continued, 2“Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves”. The piercing of the Spirit was upon him. Through this, repentance set in motion, in his heart.
David didn’t just pray like anyone, he prayed from the heart. He knew God was there, ready to answer his call at any moment. Even while guilt was upon him, he never stopped counting on God for answers. Hear his continued cry to God. 2“Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee?” This is the kind of prayer that God wants to see. He desires a heartfelt pouring out of the soul for forgiveness and mercy. He is looking for something genuine in the hearts of people. While David was praying, God was listening. And the Lord does answer us, when we call upon Him. 1Just as David desired, God gathers up his sheep from the wolves. He is our good Shepherd. Though we are dead in our sins, we can be made alive. The lost may not desire to follow Jesus now, but if their hearts are open, God will show them the light. This light will guide them and give them greater love and joy then they have ever felt before. When this happens, we can’t help but praise God. For what Jesus has done to save us from our sins, we rejoice. While we are dead, his lovingkindness comes and rescues us. He takes our hand and breathes new life into our soul. All this is possible for the sinner that humbles themselves before God in prayer.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that we may recall our sins, this day. Help us know that when we do things contrary to Your will that it is truly hurting You. We aren’t just straying from You, when we backslide, our bond is broken as well. Lord, may your love come into or hearts, once again. If we have wronged You, please forgive us. Have mercy upon our souls. Raise us from the dead. Breathe new life into us. Resurrect these bones, that they may begin to walk with You, once again. Take all the lust from our hearts. Free us from our addictions. Cast down our pride that we may be humble before You. Anything that is contrary to Your will, cast it from our lives. We want to serve You. May our lives come out of the world and into Your love. You are greater than all things. I desire to live in Your holiness. Help me along the way. Keep me on Your path of righteousness. I trust in You. I love You Lord. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Psalm 23 (KJV)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
2Psalm 88 (KJV)
1 O lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.
8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.
11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
14 Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?
15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.
17 They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.