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| Psalm
61.1 (NIV) Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. |
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| Powerful prayer speaks from the heart.* |
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It
seems that David should know that God hears and listens to him. Even though he
was a sinner (like every human), God called David “a man after my own heart.” Did
he really doubt that God was tuned to his cries?
The
Old Testament is abounding with examples of prayers ignored by God. Idolatry
was a big deal-breaker back in the day. In Job 35.12, we read that the
arrogance of the wicked causes God not to answer prayers. In Psalm 66.18, we
are told that God does not listen if we cherish sin in our hearts. According to Proverbs 21.13, anyone who
ignores the cry of the poor will be ignored. In the New Testament, James 4.3
tells us that God denies our requests when we have wrong motives.
In
truth, the only thing that sets us apart from the wicked whose prayers aren’t
heard is the blood of Jesus Christ.
Whether
we got rewarded based on how good we are, or got punished for how bad we are,
we would be in big trouble. We could be sure that we earned our punishment and
equally certain that we don’t deserve a reward. We, like David, know that our
hearts are not pure. Yet, God continues to pour out his blessings. Not just things but reminders (proof) of his
presence.
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| Our faith does not deserve mercy, but it always wins it from the sovereign grace of God when it is sincere.* |
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