READING: Psalms 116-118, 1 Corinthians 7:1-19
“Because He has turned His ear to me, I will call out to Him as long as I live.”
Psalm 116:2
I wonder what my journal would look like if I recorded every prayer God has ever answered in my 40+ years of being a Christian. A quick review of those years shows that I might divide the journal into sections, including things like heath concerns, church issues, missionary requests, marriage blessings, career moves, student requests, family concerns, government guidance, budgetary expenditures, house relocations, sermon guidance, and non-believing family concerns. I could add on top of those areas other things like travel safety, leadership wisdom, mission trip directions, mentee guidance, seminary requests, and financial worries. Not yet listed here, but certainly no less significant, are forgiveness of my sin, help in breaking strongholds, and freedom from guilt and worry. I’m sure I would add more, and my list of answered prayers could fill volumes.
Volumes. Literally. God has answered so many of prayers that I fear I’ve taken His presence and provision far too much for granted.
The psalmist, on the other hand, apparently faced a situation of death, and God delivered him from that peril – but he did not forget what God had done. The psalmist called to God, “Yahweh, save me” (Psalm 116:4), and his compassionate, gracious, righteous, loving, and living God heard his cry. Here was the psalmist’s response: “I love the Lord because He has heard my appeal for mercy. Because He has turned His ear to me, I will call out to Him as long as I live” (Psalm 116:1-2). You see, when the Lord listens to you and hears your cry for mercy, it’s that much easier to want to talk to Him again. It just makes sense that you would want to speak to someone who listens and responds.
In that light, you would think that I would pray more. My volumes of answered prayer should do nothing less than cause me to say, “I will call out to Him as long as I live.” God, please help me.
ACTION STEPS:
- In your mind, begin to write your own volume of answered prayers.
- Confess any lack of prayer in your life. Recommit yourself to pray to our God who listens.
PRAYER: “Father, I will call out to You. Thank You for listening.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Psalms 119:1-88, 1 Corinthians 7:20-40