David's Prayers

Morning Glory!!!


How rich is the soul that discovers the riches found in God's Word!  This type of understanding takes time to develop, but those who will not give up, will indeed reap the fruit of their labors in seeking after God.


This morning as I went to the pasture of Psalms 119, and prayed the prayers of David, I fed from rich and deep truths that satisfy and refresh.  David sought after the Lord with all of his heart, and though he horribly failed at times, and suffered the consequences of those failures, yet his heart was repentant, and he always turned his face back to the God of his salvation.


In Psalms 119:16-17 it says..."I will delight myself in Your statues, I will not forget Your Word.  Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live; and I will observe Your Word (hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it).


These four steps revealed in this scripture is the God ordained way to growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Let us look at the first step today...


1.  Hearing
    
     Romans 10:17 -  Faith comes by "hearing" and by hearing the Word of God.  There are two "hearings" spoken of in this verse.  The first means to physically hear, and the second ones means to hear in such a way that you "understand" what you are hearaing.


Many times we move too quickly through God's Word without giving the Holy Spirit proper time to transform our thinking as spoken of in Romans 12:2.  God's Word when it is properly "heard" and understood will change our very thoughts.


When we first come to God, we do so with a mind that has been influenced and tainted by this world's philosophy and ways.  God's Word that is "alive and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, even dividing the soul and spirit" (Hebrews 4:12), has to wash the worldly thinking, and establish the Word of Truth in our in our minds.


God's Word has been given to produce faith in us.  Faith is not a feeling.  Faith is a substance that is produced from the reception of God's Word.  The more knowledge that I have of God's Word will bring forth the power of faith in my life.


The way I begin to receive faith is by "hearing and by hearing".  The time spent in taking in God's Word; giving the Holy Spirit the tool He needs to change and inspire you, will become the rich truths that will guide and sustain you all of your days.


My suggestion is to take one chapter and spend a week reading and "thinking" about what you are reading until you can recall its message without having to read it.  David spoke of hiding God's Word in his heart.  This is what you are allowing the Holy Spirit to do.


So concentrate today on "hearing and hearing".  Luke 11:28 says that the person who hears the  Word of God and KEEPS it is blessed.  This means working actively to not forget.  It means to open your heart to the Holy Spirit and MAKE TIME for Him to speak to you.


Hebrews 2:1 says,  "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it."


The mind has the tendency to drift.  We must bring our minds to focus upon God's Word and discover the rich treasures of His glory and grace!  We are the ones who will enjoy the benefit of this discipline.  God wants His Word to abide in you so that you can bear much fruit for Him.


Where do you start?  Well, God's Word is good from cover to cover.  My suggestion would be to start in Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and/or Galatians. These letters to these particular churches reveal the will of God for the individual believer as well as the entire church. 


Get your shoes on!  The Shepherd is calling your name!  Follow Him to the pastures of His Word, sit down, open His mouth (your Bible), and HEAR HIS VOICE!!


Loving Him and you,
Charlotte