03/08/2022
When God makes a promise to us it is His bond, and He needs no reminder of it, so why is it that we feel inclined to remind Him of His Word in our prayers? We do this, not for God’s benefit, but to remind ourselves of what He has said, insure ourselves that we are praying as we should, and to give ourselves renewed hope. Remembrance, assuredness, and hope, or in other words, His Word, His promise, and our faith, how can we possibly pray without any one of these being present… even if they manifest themselves in something as simple as a groan?
“Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.”
Psalm 119:49 ESV
I was standing beside a man at the altar one Sunday morning and he was praying. I couldn’t help but overhear his prayer, and in that moment I became more consumed by his conversation with God than my own. This man proceeded to remind the Lord of one of His promises, and then describe to Him how it applied to what he was praying for, then boldly, almost impetuously, demand to receive the object of his prayer. Hearing this I was shocked at his tone, and how anyone could find it acceptable to make demands of God, but then He began to weep, and his heart melted in the hands of the Father. He had started out his prayer by speaking in frustration to his own soul, as he recalled God’s promise, reaffirmed the power it contained, and voiced his belief that God would answer him. Then, once convinced that he was in alignment with the Word of God, and certain of his adherence to His will, he wept in hope… he humbled himself before the throne.
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
Psalm 43:5 ESV
When we are distraught it often erupts as anger or belligerence; we are inclined to strike out at those we love most, but then as they embrace us we break down and release the emotion, which is pent up inside us, by sobbing uncontrollably. We do this with people, and we do this with God too. I remember the day I received the phone call informing me that my father had passed away. At first I was in shock, then angry, and finally, while standing naked in the shower, I remembered the eternal promises of God, I was assured by the words of Jesus, and my hope came alive as I wept uncontrollably in the arms of God… it was then, as the water poured over me, that He comforted me, and I received His peace.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Romans 15:13 ESV
Remembrance, assuredness, and hope… these remove our brokenness, and human frailty, replacing them with what Jesus has made possible for us… forgiveness, the fulfillment of our Father’s will for us, and the answer to our every prayer.
Are we reminded of God’s Word as we pray? Are we blessedly assured of God’s promises? Does our hope come alive as it is made strong by our faith? Listen to your heart as it reveals itself in your prayers today.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Holy Word, the amazing promises you have made us, and for the seed of faith you have planted within us that grows, blossoms, and produces the fruit… our eternal hope in you. Help us Lord to remain fixed in your will as we pray, and in this way to be filled with hope, faith, and the assurance of your every Word, and promise. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is our hope, and eternal comfort. Praised be your name for every prayer in which we cry out, groan, weep, give you thanks, and humble ourselves in. Merciful are you who knows our hearts, and embraces us with the arms of Christ. Great are you who pours your grace over us, and gives us every righteous hope we have brought before you. Wash us in the blood of your Son Jesus, and find us worthy as we are transformed in Him. We faithfully believe, worship you Father, voice our hope in you when we pray, and for these things you call us worthy, and seat us at your table forevermore. Holy are you, and greatly to be praised.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.””
Lamentations 3:22, 24 ESV
Rich Forbes