American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 25
ARC Prayer Meeting
In developing a meaningful prayer life, it is good to come to God’s throne of grace on a daily basis. Included in that devotional time, one should come daily to wisdom’s gates and wait at wisdom’s door. For whoever finds God’s wisdom contained in the Holy Scriptures finds life and obtains favor of the Lord. Conversely, one who hates God’s wisdom harms his own soul and carelessly loves death (Proverbs 8:32-26).
David, in Psalms 5, reveals his daily approach to the Almighty, “Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, for to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up (Psalms 5:1-4).
David did not seek God strictly for devotional purposes. His life was a steady stream of incredible adventures wrought with much danger. Twists and turns, ups and downs, ebb and flow, victories and defeats, mountain tops to valley experiences was his lot if life. His connection to God was paramount to overcome all the craziness that surrounded his tempestuous experiences in the Lord. It was so bad at times that he had to feign madness and go to Israel’s enemies to find relief from the battle that raged from within and from without.
Notice David’s requests, “Give ear” “consider” and “give heed.” No doubt that David wanted to make sure God took note of His predicaments. See me God! Hear me God! Consider my plight Lord! How many of us have that depth of desperation to know when we call, God will answer? How many settle for superficial prayers that simply check a devotional box as a Christian?
Throughout redemptive history, God’s patriarchs, kings, prophets, and saints similarly sought the Lord in like manner. Daniel, during his time as a enslavement in Babylon, studied the Scriptures. Specifically, he studied God’s promise through Jeremiah, the prophet, to deliver Israel and bring them back home to restore their nation, cities, and temple.
Daniel stated, “Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes and I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession” (Daniel 9:3, 4a). He launches from there to a passionate summary of Israel’s national sins that brought national calamity and God’s just judgments that came upon them. He ends his prayer with this appeal, “O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name” (Daniel 9:19).
Notice his emphasis. It was the same as David. There are many more examples, such as, Nehemiah, who took ownership for Israel’s sins before our Holy God “O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant” (Nehemiah 1:11a).
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