Hello, is anyone up there?
God does not look upon me as a lesser person because I struggle to have David’s heart for Him.
June 20
When I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me the strength I need.
Psalm 138:3
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Hello, is anyone up there?
There are Scriptures that we read, and they don’t hit us with the impact that they carry. We read them with an attitude that says, ‘Of course, that’s how it should be!’ This could be one of those verses, and I pray that after this you might have a different attitude about it and verses like it.
It says very matter-of-factly, ‘When I pray, you answer me.’ When I read that this morning, it struck me what a fantastic thing that is. King David, the psalmist is saying that when he prays, that Almighty God in heaven answers him. Maybe it is just me, but I find that to be remarkable. The infinite God, as He holds the whole universe together, takes the time to respond to David.
Well, of course God would respond to David. He was ‘a man after God’s own heart.’ He was beloved by God. He was one of the men through whom Jesus, the Savior of the world would be born into the world. The Messiah even bears the title, ‘Son of David.’ Of course, God would respond to him. This is not an outburst of pride on David’s part.
This is a psalm of thanksgiving. David is thanking God for the fact that He does answer when he prays. David knows that God is so great that He would be well within His rights to ignore us pathetic humans. As great as David was, he knew that God was so much greater and was amazed that God would answer his prayers. Those answers to prayer encouraged David and strengthened him when he needed it.
Few people will ever approach David’s heart for God. Does that mean that we are less likely to be heard by God? Absolutely not! One of the things that God does, that man does not, is to view people the same. God does not look upon me as a lesser person because I struggle to have David’s heart for Him. He looks down upon me with the same love that He had for David. He may not act in my life in the same way that He did in David’s, but I know that He loves me just as much as David.
If God answered when David prayed, He will answer when I pray or when you pray. This should fill us with awe and wonder; the God of all creation, not only hears my prayers, but answers them. This is not some hyper-spiritual theory that can only be achieved by people that live in monasteries and pray twenty hours a day. This is a simple fact of the faith; if you pray, God will answer.
Lest we assume too much, remember that God is God. He will answer your prayers when He chooses and in the way, He chooses. Just because we pray, it doesn’t mean He must give us whatever we want, He has only promised to give us what we need, when we need it. Prayer is a special privilege given to the people of God. No one else can make this claim. No one else can say, ‘When I pray, God answers!’ Jesus, teach us to pray!
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