ARE YOU ASKING ENOUGH FROM GOD?

 

Listen, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. (Psalm 86:1)

Conversations have many components: listening, speaking, laughing and crying, empathizing, instructing, asking questions, asking for help, and on and on.

“Prayer is a conversation between two who love each other,” Rosalind Rinker said. If we would think of it more in terms of a running conversation than an occasional, formal request, we would be on track to live as God designed.

ALL DAY LONG

Be gracious to me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. (Psalm 86:3)

David, the Psalmist, did not think of prayer as a momentary thought but a constant dialogue. He needed the Lord all day, and so he naturally talked to the Lord all day. The lines were open and continual as He communed with His Father.

ABOUT EVERYTHING

David asked His Father for many things. He was a humble man, and as such, he had a constant awareness and admission of his sin and need. He knew what he lacked—strength, wisdom, protection, provision, understanding—and so He cried out to God. Prayer was as natural as breathing to this humble servant.

Look at the 13 requests he makes in the 17 verses of Psalm 86 …

·      Listen, Lord

·      Answer me

·      Protect my life

·      Be gracious to me

·      Bring joy to your servant’s life

·      Hear my prayer

·      Listen to my cries for mercy

·      Teach me Your way

·      Give me an undivided mind

·      Turn to me

·      Be gracious to me

·      Giver your strength to your servant

·      Show me a sign of Your goodness

All these requests were in one conversation! David knew his Father loved Him unconditionally and had designed for him to live in humble dependency. He was unashamed to come to His Father with bold requests. He knew this type of faith delighted His God.

TO HIS FAITHFUL FATHER

David cried to God for he knew God would answer. He BELIEVED in God, and in that believing found all he needed. Listen to His confessions of faith.

·      For you, Lord are kind and ready to forgive, abounding in love to all who call on you. (Vs.5)

·      For You will answer me (Vs. 7)

·      There is no one like you among the gods and there are no works like yours. (Vs. 8)

·      For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God. (Vs. 10)

·      For your faithful love for me is great, and You rescue my life from the depths of Sheol. (Vs. 13)

·      But You, Lord are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth. (Vs. 15)

God is everything He says He is and ten billion times more. His supply is endless, and He delights in His children coming to Him in faith. Think of what we are missing by not seeking His face continually and seeking His hand when needed.

David gives, in the final verse of Psalm 86, part of the rationale for His requests.

Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me. (Vs. 17)

Your Father wants you to talk with Him all day long so the world would see His glory and His children would experience His goodness.