distress

God is near me when I pray

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God made it clear that if I were to walk as a follower of Christ, diligent to obey Him as a follower is called to do, then those around me would make a comment of observation. That observation would go something like this…

I have taught you all the laws, as the Lord my God told me to do. Obey them in the land that you are about to invade and occupy. Obey them faithfully, and this will show the people of other nations how wise you are. When they hear of all these laws, they will say, ‘What wisdom and understanding this great nation has!’

“No other nation, no matter how great, has a god who is so near when they need him as the Lord our God is to us. He answers us whenever we call for help. – Deuteronomy 4:5-7 GNT

That is why, for those,without the calling and gifting of evangelism, say that their lives are the witness they have for Jesus. Their lives are able to influence others in a profound way and have been blessed through them.

David prayed in such a manner that allowed God to respond.

Listen to me, Lord, and answer me,
    for I am helpless and weak. – Psalm 86:1 GNT

He repeats it again

Listen, Lord, to my prayer;
hear my cries for help. – Psalm 86:6 GNT

With the call for special protection and thereby the author of his salvation, David knew who was the keeper of his soul.

Save me from death, because I am loyal to you;
save me, for I am your servant and I trust in you. – Psalm 86:2 GNT

God wants to save me from my sin and help me through my distress.

You are my God, so be merciful to me;
I pray to you all day long. – Psalm 86:3 GNT

The outward sign of joy expresses the inward comfort that comes from knowing that God has indeed preserved my soul. Prayer is the nurse of spiritual joy and that is what others see in me.

Make your servant glad, O Lord,
    because my prayers go up to you. – Psalm 86:4 GNT

Is this what is lost when I slide away from my first love?

But this is what I have against you: you do not love me now as you did at first. – Revelation 2:4 GNT 

I think this affects me more than just an attitude or an emotion. My behaviour actually changes when I have lost my joy – and it happens when prayer becomes nothing more than mechanical or possibly stopping altogether. When that happens, no one sees God near me.

A complacency of mind, from that gust, relish, and savor, which it finds in spiritual things, from their suitableness unto its constitution, inclinations, and desires. There is a salt in spiritual things, whereby they are condited and made savory unto a renewed mind; though to others they are as the white of an egg, that hath no taste or savor in it. In this gust and relish lies the sweetness and satisfaction of spiritual life. Speculative notions about spiritual things, when they are alone, are dry, sapless, and barren. In this gust we taste by experience that God is gracious, and that the love of Christ is better than wine, or whatever else hath the most grateful relish unto a sensual appetite. This is the proper foundation of that joy which is “unspeakable and full of glory.” – Owen

 

Open my mouth for greater prayer

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My gateway to prayer seems to be the expression I have learned from the Psalms – Lord, have mercy on me.

Be merciful to me, O God,
    because I am under attack;
    my enemies persecute me all the time. – Psalm 56:1 GNT

In my distress, I have only one to turn to – God. I would say that no one else has interest in giving mercy, so I ask for mercy many times a day. I even find myself on occasion asking for mercy for those who are denying me mercy. How amazing is it that a person could make themselves so powerful in our eyes and yet they are simply, just a mere person. So when they rage against me, I open my mouth in prayer. Though these individuals may fight with me every day, and I ask God for justice every day, I ask God to first forgive me of my wrongs. It is what my prayer means when I say – Lord, have mercy on me. The more violent the attack, the stronger is my plea for mercy.

What a promise from Isaiah to help me understand Jesus’ relationship with me.

A child is born to us!
    A son is given to us!
    And he will be our ruler.
He will be called, “Wonderful[g] Counselor,”
    “Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,”
    “Prince of Peace.”
His royal power will continue to grow;
    his kingdom will always be at peace.
He will rule as King David’s successor,
    basing his power on right and justice,
    from now until the end of time.
The Lord Almighty is determined to do all this – Isaiah 9:6-7 GNT

Jesus is my Wonderful Counsellor – He gives me instruction and guidance in my life and offers many of those in His Word. He is the Mighty God – for all power is given to Him which means I can trust Him to accomplish amazing things in and through me. He is the Eternal Father – so I can take comfort in the stability of knowing what the reign of Jesus brings. He is the Prince of Peace – I may rest in Him knowing that because of Jesus everything is well between myself and God. This is what gives me and I am called to – greater prayer, confidence and service.

But it is needful that we should know that we have no sufficiency in ourselves, and in order to know it, we must feel it; and therefore the Lord sometimes withdraws his sensible influence, and then the buzzing of a fly will be an overmatch for our patience. At other times he will show us what he can do in us and for us; then we can adopt the Apostle’s words, and say—I can do and suffer all things, through Christ strengthening me. He has said, My grace is sufficient for you. – John Newton