Wednesday, 17 April 2019

Prayer

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Psalm 30:11(10) "Hear, Adonai, and be gracious to me. Adonai, be my help."

I love this Psalm. Every verse is packed with passion. This verse starts with Shema. We are not just asking God to listen with His ears, but "hearing" means taking heed. A prayer heard is a prayer answered.

I believe every prayer is both heard and answered. We are like Joshua, giving God choices, then He picks neither. Joshua asked the commander of the Lord's army, "Are you for us, or for our enemies?" The answer came, Joshua 5:14 "Neither, he said. Rather, I have now come as commander of Adonai's army." Joshua responded with a question. "What are you saying?" He was told to take off his shoes and worship. And that's the end of the Biblical account. When there is nothing left, worship. When all else fails, worship. God is still on the throne.

We approach God, not with a shopping list of 'I want's, but better a list of questions. What do You want from me? How can I bless you? God is not the genie in the bottle saying "Your wish is my command." Rather, we are His ambassadors on earth, saying "Show me the way, and give me thee courage to walk in it."

Our request in this verse is for bowels of mercy (Chen in Hebrew). Our admission is that we need His help. He answers, "You deserve nothing, but I created you so we could love each other. It is My delight to bless you. I love my Son, and if you revere my Son, I will honor my Son through you."

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me."

and to end - I love the way Debbie Chernoff does this song from Psalm 30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ACnngT51qA.