How to Adjust Your Priorities # 3
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LET’S GET REAL DURING PRAYER TIME!
Have you ever prayed about a situation and felt like you weren’t getting through to God? Have you had a difficult time with consistency in your prayer life? This week as we continue to adjust our priorities, be encouraged and let’s rethink or restart our prayer life together. If you are contemplating a life changing decision or just how to make it through another day, it’s time to get real with our prayers.
Prayer is a conversation with God, not a one-sided affair where you call out your wish list items. We are going to take a look at the personal prayers of one powerful prayer warrior. Even though King David was a man after God’s own heart, he went through some slippery times before he received the kingship. How did he manage to adjust his priorities while on the run for his life?
Follow the exercise below and then let’s compare.
(1) Pray for understanding from the Holy Spirit
(2) Read Psalm 4 & 5. (I will be using the NIV translation, but feel free to use the translation you are comfortable reading)
(3) Mark in your bible (or record in a notebook) any part of David’s prayers that you can relate to (I know exactly what he’s talking about) right now or in the recent past.
“To be or not to be” is a famous Shakespearean quote.
To pray or not to pray.
Well, the latter is simply not a smart option. A lack of prayer can lead to some embarrassing, life-changing, mind-blowing, frustrating, agonizing, nail-biting – you get the picture – events.
Here are my notes:
Psalm 4:1 – Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
Psalm 5:1-2 – Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
(a) Be Bold and Honest.
The Psalms are filled with prayers. David’s prayers are rather astonishing to read, seeing that he is addressing God. Such whining. Such frustration. And incredible boldness and honesty. I have to admit I’ve had moments like that myself. Moments of trembling anger, numbing pain and bitter tears, where words tumbled out, asking questions and seeking answers. This type of vulnerable honesty is what God seeks from us.
Keeping it real. Now that’s where breakthroughs over strongholds in our lives begin. When you dig up the roots of the issue, you are on your way to make a suitable adjustment or life change.
Remember when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. What’s the first part of the prayer (Matthew 6:9)? Our Father who arts in heaven. As Christians (confessing believers and followers of Jesus Christ), we’re not praying to some “god” with no feelings or emotions. God Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, cares for us and our struggles. He already knows the predetermined paths for our lives. He longs for a sweet communion with His children, where we willingly cast everything that haunts us, steals our joy and threatens to gives us an ulcer (or worse) over to him.
When life seems to pile up on my shoulder, I tend to turn the other way, procrastinate or do anything to not have to deal with it “now.” I’m discovering some things God expects me to stop stuffing away, and instead release the pain and frustrations to him, so He can better equip me. The only way I can get from Point A to Point B is to take a honest look at where I have been, what has become habits or what’s dominated my attention. It’s through my prayer time with God, my eyes start to open to the possibilities of what’s on the other side of my difficulties.
My crazy schedule can get back on track. I don’t need to worry about this and that. Experiencing joy is possible in the midst of the trial.
Psalm 4:3 – Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.
Do you really believe God listens to your prayers? David can answer this question for us if we have any doubts.
It took David thirteen long years after the prophet Samuel anointed him to be the next King of Israel (1 Samuel 16:13). Thirteen years on the run from a crazy man (King Saul) who had long since lost his anointing and connection with God (1 Samuel 16:14). Through David’s honest cries to the Lord, he won several major military victories and gained a spiritual relationship that helped him lead Israel through one of the greatest time periods in this small nation’s history.
(b) Be Proactive – Just Do It!
Now you know it’s okay to be honest and bold in with your prayers, but when are you going to find time to pray?
Psalm 5:3 – In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
I’m not a morning person. Right now as I’m typing this article at night, my energy is high despite a long day at work. I’m a night owl and have been since I was a child. (Sorry mom, for those nights I confiscated dad’s flashlight to read a book into the wee hours of the morning – on a school night too. I digress. Sorry folks.)
If you are like me in the morning, sometimes it may take a shower and then a cup of coffee to be considered fully awake. Even if it takes some effort, don’t disregard the morning hour to seek the Lord. Thank the Father for a new morning. Ask Him, what’s really the most important item on your list? He might tell you something that’s not on the list at all.
If you desire a longer prayer time, especially if you have children to get up and off to school, you may have to set the clock earlier. Give yourself time to be fully awake so you can converse with God in the morning. Believe me I’ve tried to pray sleepy – it doesn’t work – sleep wins.
Psalm 4:4 – In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
Psalm 4:8 – I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Even if you go to bed early, there’s a lot that goes on during the day. Conflicts and confrontations with spouses, children or co-workers may have occurred. Maybe you didn’t accomplish anything on your list. Those frustrations make an appearance when you are ready to go to bed. Just as your eyes close, your mind decides to whip through a few thoughts over and over again, chipping away at precious hours of sleep.
Cast these thoughts over to God through prayer (1 Peter 5:7). We’re definitely no good without proper rest for our temples (1 Corinthians 3:16). Plus our priorities can easily get out of whack because we’re stressed and sleep-deprived.
Whether you choose the morning or evening, find time pray and be sure you remain consistent. That’s your special time and nothing should get in the way as you have “a little talk with Jesus.”
(c) Be a Listener and a Worshipper
Conversations need two sides. While one person talks, the other person listens. Vice Versa. Same concept you have with your best buddy works even better with God.
Psalm 5:7-8 – But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple. Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make straight your way before me.
Notice after David moaned and groaned his concerns, he set in his heart to reverence God. I believe where he says, “in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple,” he sat aside time to be still and listen to God. I’ve received revelations in my spirit during times of worship. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in a worship experience at church. Sometimes profound answer have were received during a walk around the neighborhood or while sitting on the porch observing nature in progress.
So, don’t just moan and groan and then go about your business. Remain still to hear God’s counsel. He will whisper into your spirit. Yeah, it may be surprising and seem like a crazy idea, but God has your back. God knows how to bring you in alignment with His will so you won’t find yourself flailing in the dark over bad decisions and planning.
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I think David is perhaps the best reference in the bible for getting real with God. Often my prayer journal will take on the appearance of a Psalm or many Psalms and that just means I have been real with God. Why not be me? God knows my inner workings better than I know myself anyway right? What I like about the Psalms is that they are filled with such passion and emotion, even a little doubt at times but invariably they seem to conclude on a positive note with David’s re-affirmation of his faith in God. What we don’t know the amount of time that lapsed between the first verses and the last and how long it took David to break through but I can bet it took longer than it takes us to read them.
I heard someone on the TV yesterday who was talking about praying in faith and how we should not ask God Why? because He does not answer why prayers, but prayers of faith. I respectfully could not disagree more. I have prayed and had answered MANY why prayers and where I lacked faith, I was REAL about it and asked God to help my unbelief. Even the disciples did this.
I pray that I can take your charge to heart and implement those prayer practices to get some real positive results, and I echo that same charge to all of your readers.
Great stuff,
God Bless