I typed the word prayers into Google, hoping to find some inspiration for this article. This is what I saw:
About 1,180,000,000 results (0.78 seconds)I don’t think I even know how to say that number. So many things to read about prayer came up in just seconds. How long will it take me to read through them? I am not even going to try. I wonder how many billions of prayers are said to God each second. He hears them all. Every prayer. Every moment. In fact, He knows them before we say them.
I typed the word prayer into an online concordance. This is what I saw:
154 Bible results for “prayer” from English Standard Version.
These are all worth reading and I found inspiration!
Psalm 69 is an imprecatory psalm of individual lament (a psalm that calls down calamity, destruction, and God’s anger and judgment on His enemies). David is asking God to deliver him from the criticism and opposition directed at him by the people.
In verses 1-12, David describes the situation quite vividly.
In verses 14-29, David asks God to save him.
In verses 30-36, David praises God for Who He is.
If you notice, I skipped one verse. I think it is the pivotal verse from which we can learn truths about praying.
Psalm 69:13
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
“My prayer is to you, O Lord.” When I was a child and a toy broke, my first impulse was to take it to my daddy to fix it. Even now, when things go wrong, I need my first impulse to not be “How can I fix this?” but to take it to my Heavenly Father. He is the only One Who can give the solution. He is the Almighty God, Creator, All-Knowing, All-Powerful, All-Present Lord of All. We cannot pray to anyone else and we certainly cannot fix it ourselves.
“At an acceptable time . . . “ Only God knows when it is the right time to answer our prayers. It may be a quick yes. It may be an immediate no. It may be a long wait for the final answer. He knows when He will answer and I need to remember that. Adding that phrase to my prayers will remind me that I am yielding control of the situation to Him, even the timing of the outcome.
“In the abundance of your steadfast love . . .” Every answer that God gives to our prayers, whether they are yes, no, or wait, comes from His steadfast love. His abundance of steadfast love. It does not waiver, it does not wane. He answers His children’s prayers from His steadfast love. I need to pray without fear of His answer, knowing that even if it is not the answer that I want, it comes from His heart of love for me. In the waiting, He wants me to grow in faith and dependence on Him. In the yes, He wants me to praise Him. In the no, He wants me to praise Him and know that I will see His blessing one day.
“Answer me in your saving faithfulness . . .” He is faithful. Always. He will answer my prayers, on that I can be certain. His plan is salvation for His children. His Truth leads to His victory in us. He will answer us, He will save us, for He is faithful.
Heavenly Father, help me to always remember that it is a privilege to come to you with my prayers, knowing that You love me even more than my earthly father. Help me be obedient and accepting of Your answers to my requests. I praise You for Your steadfast love, Your perfect will, and Your unending faithfulness.
