Daily Devotions
The psalmist pleads with God to answer his prayers. He knows that the Lord has answered him in the past: “You have given me relief when I was in distress.” God has answered in the past and He will do so again, but the psalmist is in distress. His enemies tell lies about him and seek to ruin his reputation. They actively “seek after lies.”
We know that kind of distress. We too plead with God to hear our prayers, knowing that He has answered us in the past and He will hear us again. We may have human foes who hurt us with words, telling lies about us. Others may ridicule our faith in Jesus. Even if there are no earthly enemies who want to harm us, the devil is a foe who constantly seeks our ruin. He wants us to be filled with doubt and fear. Satan, the ancient serpent, would like to lead us to despair over our sins and drive us away from our Savior
In Gethsemane, on the night before He died, the Savior pleaded with His Heavenly Father. In great distress, Jesus asked that the cup of suffering might be removed from Him. Yet He also prayed, “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42b). When Jesus was put on trial, His opponents sought to turn His honor into shame. False witnesses accused Him with vain words and lies. Jesus was condemned and crucified. He suffered and died, but on the third day after His shameful death, that shame was turned to honor as He was raised from death to reign in exalted glory.
The psalmist asks that his prayers would be heard, but he also has a few things to say to friends and enemies alike: “Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.” Through faith in Christ Jesus, we have been set apart as God’s holy people, a kingdom of priests appointed to serve Him and to offer the daily sacrifices of prayer and praise. The Lord hears when we call to Him. Earthly opponents may seek to hurt us and tell lies about us. Our enemy Satan, a fallen foe, still seeks to harm us and lead us to doubt and despair. When such things happen, we have something to say to friends and enemies: the Lord has set us apart for Himself and He hears our prayers!
WE PRAY: My God and Savior, hear my prayers and deliver me from evil. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you ever plead with God in your prayers?
2. How can we know that God hears us when we pray?
3. What do you do to keep yourself focused when you pray?