Waist Deep 2018 - April 26


Psalm 61: 1 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. (NIV)


Powerful prayer speaks from the heart.*


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?

Actually, the Old Testament abounds with examples of behaviors that caused God to ignore prayers. For one, 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. And 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 without God’s grace. 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. 


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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