“I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord ;I make supplication with my voice to the Lord.”-Psalm 142:1-2.
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED WHEN TROUBLES COME OUR PRAYER LIFE INCREASES.
Our prayer life increases, the intensity of our prayers, the regularity of our prayers, the crying out from our inner being to Him who Sits upon the Throne who has worked this very desire in you to- Pray! To turn to Him, to cry out to Him, is His wonderful working of grace in your heart. What evidence of grace. What evidence of His benevolent heart towards you, that He would turn what is painful into something good- by using it to turn you towards Him who loves you .Though all forsake you, He will not, He cannot , for He has made a covenant with Himself through the blood of His dear Son concerning you. You now “stand in grace”-Romans 5:2- You stand in eternal favor, declared right and having access- unlimited access to God. “Who is like You, O Lord majestic in Holiness, awesome in prayers forever working wonders.” “And we know that God causes ALL THINGS {including this thing} to work for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose…” And the good ultimately is to conform us to the image of His dear Son. {Romans 8:28-29}.
“I CRY ALOUD…” –
David confined to a cave, hunted like an animal by Saul and his men seeking to kill him. He looked for a friend and found none. Though once he had been the toast of all when as a shepherd boy he had slain Goliath, and friends were too numerous to know, yet in his time of need, those whom he had rescued had forgotten and turned on him, “But God…” would teach us all a lesson from David in the Cave.
David cries out with his voice, twice the phrase is mentioned regarding his “voice.” He cries out from a heart in pain. He cries out from a place of pain and in need of assistance and assurance. He is “overwhelmed” the word means, “In darkness” and with the idea, of fainting, or as some would say, “they blacked out.”{v3}. David said his foes were too strong for him, but he did not end there but he ended with the Lord who is sufficient for any and all foes!
HE REMEMBERS WELL HIS CRY TO THE LORD.-
In times of distress-FOCUS your thoughts and words towards “THE LORD.” It sounds simple, but how often the mind will cry elsewhere but to Him. Or seek other solutions than Him. The thing to Remember is- The thing you are going through may not “be good,” or “feel good,” but look at the good The LORD brings out of it- He is turning you to Himself. That is Good. He is working all things even the evil things, the hurtful things, He is greater than, and the fact David turns to the LORD and cries out aloud in Prayer- to the LORD- is a wonderful place for us all to start with… HIM! There may be times you feel you cannot express with your voice, the hurt, trouble of your heart, but that look of faith toward Him, that sigh towards Him, He is good and able to interpret. When the troubles come, which they invariably do, Scripture teaches {James 1:2-3}, let us purpose Whom we will look to. David in the cave, Cried out with a loud voice to the LORD.
WHEN TROUBLES COME- BEGIN THEM BY RELATING, AND RELINQUISHING THEM TO THE LORD.-
How much anxiety, fretting we would save ourselves from if we would relate and RELINQUISH ourselves, problems into His care! When troubles come- talk to Him, tell Him all about it. He who sits upon the Throne, knew about it before He created the world, galaxies, stars, knew All about it. He knew all about it before you were born. He sits enthroned as Eternal Reigning King, and you have audience and a sympathetic ear with Him. Though rightfully worshiped and adored by myriads of angel’s and redeemed souls in heaven, yet He hears the cries of His people and enters in.{Psalm 34:4,6}
Matthew Henry wrote “There is no cave so deep, so dark, but we may out of it send up our prayers, and our souls in prayer, to God.”
Whatever the “cave” you find yourself in, as I presently do myself- let us purpose, Gratitude. Gratitude, that He has purposed good. Gratitude that He is using it for our good by turning our heart’s towards Him to pray.
Lesson number 1 in Prayer– Cry out to Him!
Lesson number 2 – Thank Him that this “thing, situation etc.” He is using for good- that you might turn to Him and talk to Him!
Lesson number 3– The LORD of glory, Creator and Sustainer of all things Lovingly, compassionately listens to you from His Throne of grace. Let the needy one come boldly, confidently, reverently, expectantly, to His Throne of Grace, Kindness, Empathy, favor, “to receive”-” Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” “In time of need,” means,” the needy one”. {Hebrews 4:16} The needy one may come to His Gracious Throne where sits Your Gracious Lord…to receive from Him.
OUR CRY OF DESPERATION IS BEING USED BY HIM FOR INSPIRATION- Turning us TO HIM in Prayer and Trust!
AND LET OUR CRY OF DESPERATION BE USED BY HIM TO TURN OUR HEARTS TOWARDS HIM IN – ADORATION!
Cry out to Him whatever “cave” you find yourself in! I am thankful I as do you have Him to cry to from our “caves” symbolic for us of great difficulties!
“Oh give thanks to the LORD for He is-present tense- GOOD!”- Psalm 107:1