The God Who Answers
We are continuing to pray through the book of Psalms this week in our commitment to follow Jesus. There are times when I don’t know what to pray, so I find it helpful to have these prayers as an example. Please join me in prayer before we get started.
Holy Father, please send Your Spirit to fill me today. You are welcomed into my life today to guide and teach me what You want me to learn. Soften my heart and keep me sensitive to Your voice. Amen.
Psalm 17 (NLT)
1 O Lord, hear my plea for justice.
Listen to my cry for help.
Pay attention to my prayer,
for it comes from honest lips.
2 Declare me innocent,
for you see those who do right.
3 You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night.
You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong.
I am determined not to sin in what I say.
4 I have followed your commands,
which keep me from following cruel and evil people.
5 My steps have stayed on your path;
I have not wavered from following you.
6 I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
Bend down and listen as I pray.
7 Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways.
By your mighty power you rescue
those who seek refuge from their enemies.
8 Guard me as you would guard your own eyes.[a]
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
9 Protect me from wicked people who attack me,
from murderous enemies who surround me.
10 They are without pity.
Listen to their boasting!
11 They track me down and surround me,
watching for the chance to throw me to the ground.
12 They are like hungry lions, eager to tear me apart—
like young lions hiding in ambush.
13 Arise, O Lord!
Stand against them, and bring them to their knees!
Rescue me from the wicked with your sword!
14 By the power of your hand, O Lord,
destroy those who look to this world for their reward.
But satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones.
May their children have plenty,
leaving an inheritance for their descendants.
15 Because I am righteous, I will see you.
When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.
This is a bold prayer. I am a pretty bold person and think my prayers reflect this characteristic, but even I blush at some of David’s requests. His language is vivid and often graphic, but also beautiful and full of conviction. How do you feel after reading David’s bold and confident prayer? Where do you think this confidence comes from?
Many of David’s psalms were written during the intense pursuit of his enemies and the suffering that ensued. I know that’s when my prayer life is at its strongest, because I recognize how weak I am in those moments. There’s something more than desperation in David’s words though. What themes stand out to you in this psalm?
In verse 6, David declares with confidence, “I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God,” and we can see the authenticity in his declaration in the way he prays. Time after time, God answered David’s prayers. There were times that it was in ways David wanted and expected, but there were many times God’s answers were the opposite of what he was hoping for. He did not cling tightly to how God answered, instead, he had total assurance that God would answer him. How has God answered your prayers? Are you recognizing His answers even when they are not what you expected?
The temptation to have our own expectations of God is strong, but when we do this, we limit recognizing His presence in our lives. Whether the answer is “yes,” “no,” or “not yet,” how amazing it is that the God of the universe always answers us, His creation. I am very grateful for the practice of journaling because it gives me a record of how God has answered me. It has increased my confidence that God hears me, which produces boldness in my prayers. Do you believe God will answer you when you pray? What practice could you develop to keep track of His faithfulness to you?
No matter what we are facing, we can be confident that God hears our prayers and will answer them. Let’s practice praying to Him with the assurance that He is the God who answers.
Heavenly Father, You say repeatedly in Your Word that You love each and every one of us and that You hear Your people. I believe You answer my prayers; help my unbelief. I surrender my expectations of how You will answer me; help me to see Your answers and trust that Your way is better than mine. In Jesus’ name, amen.
May the Lord, who longs to give you good gifts, reveal His generosity to you.
Holy Father, please send Your Spirit to fill me today. You are welcomed into my life today to guide and teach me what You want me to learn. Soften my heart and keep me sensitive to Your voice. Amen.
Psalm 17 (NLT)
1 O Lord, hear my plea for justice.
Listen to my cry for help.
Pay attention to my prayer,
for it comes from honest lips.
2 Declare me innocent,
for you see those who do right.
3 You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night.
You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong.
I am determined not to sin in what I say.
4 I have followed your commands,
which keep me from following cruel and evil people.
5 My steps have stayed on your path;
I have not wavered from following you.
6 I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
Bend down and listen as I pray.
7 Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways.
By your mighty power you rescue
those who seek refuge from their enemies.
8 Guard me as you would guard your own eyes.[a]
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
9 Protect me from wicked people who attack me,
from murderous enemies who surround me.
10 They are without pity.
Listen to their boasting!
11 They track me down and surround me,
watching for the chance to throw me to the ground.
12 They are like hungry lions, eager to tear me apart—
like young lions hiding in ambush.
13 Arise, O Lord!
Stand against them, and bring them to their knees!
Rescue me from the wicked with your sword!
14 By the power of your hand, O Lord,
destroy those who look to this world for their reward.
But satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones.
May their children have plenty,
leaving an inheritance for their descendants.
15 Because I am righteous, I will see you.
When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.
This is a bold prayer. I am a pretty bold person and think my prayers reflect this characteristic, but even I blush at some of David’s requests. His language is vivid and often graphic, but also beautiful and full of conviction. How do you feel after reading David’s bold and confident prayer? Where do you think this confidence comes from?
Many of David’s psalms were written during the intense pursuit of his enemies and the suffering that ensued. I know that’s when my prayer life is at its strongest, because I recognize how weak I am in those moments. There’s something more than desperation in David’s words though. What themes stand out to you in this psalm?
In verse 6, David declares with confidence, “I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God,” and we can see the authenticity in his declaration in the way he prays. Time after time, God answered David’s prayers. There were times that it was in ways David wanted and expected, but there were many times God’s answers were the opposite of what he was hoping for. He did not cling tightly to how God answered, instead, he had total assurance that God would answer him. How has God answered your prayers? Are you recognizing His answers even when they are not what you expected?
The temptation to have our own expectations of God is strong, but when we do this, we limit recognizing His presence in our lives. Whether the answer is “yes,” “no,” or “not yet,” how amazing it is that the God of the universe always answers us, His creation. I am very grateful for the practice of journaling because it gives me a record of how God has answered me. It has increased my confidence that God hears me, which produces boldness in my prayers. Do you believe God will answer you when you pray? What practice could you develop to keep track of His faithfulness to you?
No matter what we are facing, we can be confident that God hears our prayers and will answer them. Let’s practice praying to Him with the assurance that He is the God who answers.
Heavenly Father, You say repeatedly in Your Word that You love each and every one of us and that You hear Your people. I believe You answer my prayers; help my unbelief. I surrender my expectations of how You will answer me; help me to see Your answers and trust that Your way is better than mine. In Jesus’ name, amen.
May the Lord, who longs to give you good gifts, reveal His generosity to you.
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