Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 119:145-152
Ps 119:145-152 Qoph
145 I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD, and I will obey your decrees. 146 I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes. 147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. 148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night that I may meditate on your promises. 149 Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your laws. 150 Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law. 151 Yet you are near, O LORD, and all your commands are true. 152 Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.
John 17:1-5
1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
We can learn to pray from both David and Jesus. It is not so much the words as the intent and the heart of complete trust behind them that makes these such good prayers. David says that the Lord is near and his word is true. There is no doubt or equivocation in this – just solid faith. Jesus speaks of his glorification before he even faces his trial which preceded his death on the cross. In his mind this was already accomplished because he knew it was God’s will for him.
This is similar to what Paul says to the Philippians when the told them to not be anxious about anything but with prayer and supplication let their requests be known to God, with thanksgiving. We can give thanks to God before we actually see the results because he has promised to answer us with what is best. Paul then adds that the Lord is near. So in faith we thank God for the answer, we ask and then hold the hand of our Savior until he takes us through the trials. Hallelujah, what a Savior! What a privilege to be able to pray to our Father!
Thank you heavenly Father for your love and for your promise to hear my prayer and to respond with what is best for me at the time. I know you will provide me a way of escape from every trial and will give me grace sufficient to face anything the devil throws at me. Forgive me when I fail to trust you and find your way. Help me see the right path and use your wisdom to overcome. Keep me from worrying and being anxious. Lord, my heart bleeds for many who face the loss of those they love – give them your peace and comfort. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
