While the world’s turmoil continues, God’s people can rest in the many day-to-day promises of God. Even though there are times when God’s people are providentially caught in the world’s disasters, God remains faithful, keeping His Word through the most difficult circumstances.
King David, who was far from perfect, had a heart which repeatedly gravitated back to Yahweh, he testified the following of God. Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him (Psalm 28:6-7). Now, it’s important to grasp the practical nature of David’s praise in these two verses. David is NOT saying that all his problems vanished, as if prayer is a magic chant that removes all difficulties. Nor is he saying that prayer transformed him into a super-spiritual person who became invincible. Here, David declares the absolute essentials of what it means to live a faith which produces perseverance and a realistic joy in the LORD.
It starts with worship; Blessed be the LORD! Above all else in life, good, bad, or indifferent, the LORD is worthy of us acknowledging His majestic and holy character which are displayed through His actions. David knew that our circumstances, and the poor decisions we sometimes make, do NOT change who God is. This is our first point for confidence, the Lord’s worthiness of worship.
Therefore, acknowledging Yahweh’s worthiness, David knows the certainty of Him attentively listening to our prayers. No prayer is too short or too long. No prayer will ever catch God off-guard or by surprise. Plus, the God who is love (1 John 4:7), hears our prayers with a bias towards mercy. Meaning, when we appeal to God’s mercy, we are speaking to the very essence of who He is. This should begin to grow confidence in even the most nervous of believers who pray. None of God’s children who pray, ever go unnoticed or get ignored. This is our second point for confidence, our pleas for mercy get heard attentively.
Reminding ourselves of the first two points motivates us to acknowledge that the LORD is our strength and our shield. This shifts our dependency from self to God, releasing us from the deception that says we control our own destiny. Consequently, David, like us can say with determination that in Him my heart trusts. The application looks like this. Colossians 4:2, Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Job adds; What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient? (Job 6:11). A praying trust in God watches for His activity while we wait patiently for His timing. Watching, we recognise when God answers and we will be able to identify His help, even if divine help is delivered by human hands. This is our third point for confidence, God mercifully helps.
David ends where he started, with worship, repeating our first point for confidence. The outcome of biblical styled prayer, especially in times of great trial, is that our heart’s exult. That means, having worshipped, prayed, and seen merciful answers, at every level of our inner beings, we are jubilant with gratitude to the LORD. Emotions should not be able to contain themselves. Thanks, and appreciation will testify through words and singing. Leaving us with our fourth point for confidence, our impatience does not stop God answering in His time and way.
God’s promises, when truly believed, changes our perspective of trials.
To be continued…
