Scripture: “I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.” – (3:4)
Observation: David wrote this psalm when fleeing from his son, Absalom. Absalom was trying to take the throne away from his father, and David did not want a conflict in the city of Jerusalem, so he fled the city. In his sorrow, he called upon the Lord.
Application: Life is full of problems. Most of them, we can manage without too much distress, but sometimes we face troubles that are overwhelming. We cannot see a possible way out of the situation, and the feelings of anger, dread, despair, and hopelessness threaten to overtake us. When David found himself in these types of circumstances, he always turned to the Lord.
Learning to trust God for the outcome of situations is not an easy lesson, but it is the only way to find peace in our hearts and soul. Through prayer and Bible study, we can find the answers we need to get through life’s daunting challenges. Sometimes the answers are not forthcoming or exactly what we had hoped for, but God always provides what we need to navigate through the struggles we face.
God is available to us 24/7. He always has a listening ear; we will never receive a “busy signal” when we call out to the Lord. Here are a few verses that remind us that God is always available to us when we pray.
- “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.” – Psalm 18:6
- “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” – Psalm 34:4
- “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” -Psalm 50:15
We have the assurance that when we pray to God, He hears us and answers because of what Jesus did for us. Once we have received Jesus’ forgiveness of sins and subsequent gift of salvation, God becomes our heavenly Father, and He desires for us to communicate with Him. 1 Peter 5:7 states, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” God cares about everything and anything on our hearts. Hebrews 4:16 assures us that we are welcomed by God to approach Him. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
I heard someone once say if a person isn’t in the midst of a storm, they are either about to enter into one or just exiting one. Problems will always be in our lives, but we can go to the One who controls all things and can do anything! Take time to pray because God is listening!
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for desiring to hear my prayers! Thank You for answering them according to Your perfect will. Help me to remember that You do all things good all the time, and I can trust You for the outcomes of every struggle. Help me to seek You out first for Your counsel and direction, instead of when I’m at the end of my rope. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge-- take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
(from “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” by Joseph Medlicott Scriven)
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“I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.” – Psalm 116:1-2