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A Good Word

~ A Prayer Life ~ Leave a comment

Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

~ Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV)

Anxiety, fear and worry are part of a fallen world. From time to time, all people succumb to the uncertainties surrounding them. Though common, it is not ideal. This worry can and does affect the heart of the person. It cast doubt where God desires faith.

Proverbs exhorts us to encourage those we see burdened with a heavy heart. We are to bring a “good word” to lift the heart and spirit of our fellow man. Where are you today? In need of getting or giving a good word? In either case, may we be found faithful unto the Lord.

~ apl

None Like You

~ A Prayer Life ~ 2 Comments

Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works.

~ Psalm 86:8 (NKJV)

As we continue our brief exposition of this Psalm of prayer, in verse 8 we find David exalting God above all the other gods of this world. To be sure there are many false gods and religions in the world today. And millions of people place their trust in these so-called deities. Here the Psalmist lifts up and praises the true and living God among all the false gods of this world.

For among all the gods of this world, Jehovah God, the God of Holy Scripture, is the only One who can hear our prayers and deliver us from trouble. As it pertains to our prayers, an idol of wood, rock or stone cannot respond to the supplications of a people. Those who ultimately place their trust in anything short of the Lord God will find their hopes sorely disappointed.

Yet, the child of God who brings his petitions to the Lord, he can know there is a throne of grace which is always accessible to him; while to others there is none. There is One to whom he may always come in prayer; while others, they sadly cry out in vain. As we bring our prayers to God, let us remember He is the living God. He is not like the false gods and idols of a worldly making. He will hear you. May we believe about God, in faith, saying there is none like You.

~ apl

Be Free

~ A Prayer Life ~ 8 Comments

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

~ John 8:36 (NKJV)

I love music, but I never learned to play an instrument. Yet, one of my favorite pastimes is listening to music. And though I never personally learned to play a guitar, the drums, a saxophone or piano, I can certainly appreciate the amazing talent, commitment, hard work and devotion that goes into mastering one of these or many other instruments.

Though I love music, I am not free to make music on my own. At least, not through instrumentation. Those who first train on those instruments, and take lesson after lesson for years, are the ones who are free to produce the wonderful sounds of rhythm and harmony who others, like myself, are not free to make on our own. In other words, it is only through the confining discipline of submitting oneself to the rigors of apprehending the musical instrument that one is truly free to play whatever they choose.

Likewise, it is only through submitting yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ that one becomes spiritually free. Until then, we are in bondage, in bondage to sin and confined to the limitations of our own sinful nature. Limited in our freedom to spiritually enjoy the richness of Christ. It is by discipline, apprehending, and submitting oneself to God that one truly tastes freedom.

The world will try to offer you it’s version of freedom. But it is a false freedom. It will seek to entice you with freedom from discipline, from responsibility, and from accountability to God and others. But this is not real freedom. Like the concert pianists who only through years and years of disciplined training is he free to play whatever he chooses, it is only through discipleship to Jesus that spiritual freedom ever comes. Freedom to love, serve and honor the Savior. But, once Christ sets you free, be assured dear friend, you are free indeed.

~ apl

I Lift Up My Soul

~ A Prayer Life ~ 2 Comments

Be merciful to me, O Lord, For I cry to You all day long. Rejoice the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

~ Psalm 86:3-4 (NKJV)

John Bunyan once wrote, “In times of affliction we commonly meet with the sweet experiences of the love of God.” As we continue our study through Psalm 86, verses 3 and 4, we find the Psalmist in fervent supplication to his Lord for tender mercies in a time of trouble. Like Bunyan would later write, David is longing for that sweet experience of God’s love in times of affliction.

In these verses, we see the heart of the Lord’s servant laid bare. David was man who suffered afflictions both inwardly and outwardly. He knew first hand the need for God’s mercy. So here we find him crying out for just that. Notice his plea for mercy is “all day long”. David’s prayer was on-going. He understood the remedy for his trouble was found no place else save the mercy of Almighty God. Therefore we see the importunity, the persistence, of his prayer.

David is seeking restoration, the refreshing, of his soul. This portion of his prayer is a cry for the interposing of divine grace during a trial of adversity. The soul of this servant is being offered up unto the Lord so that He might tend it, nurture it and comfort it. David’s spirit yearns for deliverance from these present afflictions so it might be restored to the joy of the Lord.

Do we seek God persistently in our prayers? Can we allow ourselves to cry out to the Lord in the midst of our own adversity? David would not stop seeking God’s face, His merciful hand, until the rejoicing of his soul had been restored. Affliction can deepen your faith and draw you closer to the Lord and the sweet experience of His love if you will only lift your soul up to Him.