God’s Word is True

Psalms 119:145–152
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Prayer is surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boat hook from a boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to th … More

Prayer

We need to balance the Word and prayer in our devotional life and ministry, for all Bible and no prayer can produce a life that is cold and sterile, but all prayer and no Bible could result in zeal without knowledge. The spiritual leaders in the early church gave themselves to prayer and the Word (Acts 6:4). In this passage the writer has concentrated on prayer and cries out to God day and night. From his experience, we receive some basic instructions on how to pray.

Pray wholeheartedly (vv. 145-146). Before we can pray as we ought, we must pray for ourselves that God will give us a heart that is on fire for the Lord. With enemies all around and a deep sense of personal guilt, David could only turn to the Lord for salvation (v. 146).
Pray without ceasing (vv. 147-148). Two important elements of prayer are given in these verses:

a. That we constantly cultivate an attitude of prayer in the morning and during the watches of the night.

b. Apart from the Word of God, we cannot know God’s will. Each verse mentions the writers devotion to the Word of God.

3. Pray as an act of love (v. 149). It is easy to think of prayer as an emergency measure, rushing into God’s presence and crying for help. Prayer is more than asking; prayer is loving. If we love the Word of God, we must also love the God of the Word and express our love to Him.

4. Pray with intelligence and alertness (vv. 150-152) Even when there are those who would threaten the psalmist, he is confident that there is one nearer him than his adversaries. Through testing and adversity he had learned that the Word of God is true.

Application

We are soldiers in a battle and we dare not go to sleep while on duty. I want to have my ears turned on to His instruction and be ready to march whenever He gives the marching orders. I believe this will only come as I pray and listen to His Word.

Psalms 119:145-152 (English Standard Version)

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