Gems from the Psalms – Day 11

Our gem from our treasure chest today, glistens with tears. It is the lament of a critically ill young man living under severe stress, in a hostile environment. It is a plea to God from a heavily burdened heart.

Compared to the psalmist, our personal situation may be immeasurably better, but our own prayers are as vital for our relationship with God.

Prayer is an intensely personal interchange between God and oneself. The more we pray to God, the closer we draw near to him. The closer we get, the more we bond with our Father God.

How close are you to God? That is a question every believer should ask of themselves.

The writer of Psalm 73 was very clear about his relationship with God: “You guide me with your counsel and afterwards you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire beside you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:24-26)

Relationships are dependent on people communicating with each other. Through prayer, we deepen our personal relationship with God.

Prayer is not just approaching the throne of grace with a begging bowl. Prayer is giving to God the praise and honour due to him. Man was made to glorify God and when we do that, we fulfil the very purpose of our existence.

Should we make our needs known to God? Yes, most definitely. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us that God is a loving Father who listens and responds to his children. “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him?” (Matthew 7:11)

Our prayer requests may not always be granted. The words of Jesus praying in Gethsemane should run like a golden thread through our own prayer requests. “Yet not as I will but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

We do not always know what is best for others or us, but God does. Rest in his will.