When to Pray!

When to Pray!

Palm 32 By David. A maskil:

How blessed are those whose offense is forgiven, those whose sin is covered!

How blessed are those to whom ADONAI imputes no guilt, in whose spirit is no deceit!

When I kept silent my bones wasted away because of my groaning all day long; day and night your hand was heavy on me: the sap in me dried up as in a summer drought. (Selah)

When I acknowledged my sin to you, when I stopped concealing my guilt, and said, “I will confess my offenses to ADONAI”; then You, You forgave the guilt of my sin. (Selah)

This is what everyone faithful should pray at a time when You can be found. Then, when the floodwaters are raging, they will not reach to him.

You are a hiding place for me, You will keep me from distress; You will surround me with songs of deliverance. (Selah)

“I will instruct and teach you in this way that you are to go; I will give you counsel; My eyes will be watching you.”

Don’t be like a horse or mule that has no understanding, that has to be curbed with bit and bridle, or else it won’t come near you.

Many are the torments of the wicked, but grace surrounds those who trust in ADONAI.

Be glad in ADONAI; rejoice, you righteous! Shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (CJB)

As I was reading this morning verse six stood out to me, “This is when everyone faithful should pray at a time when You can be found. Then, when the flood waters are raging, they will not reach him.” The key words are when and then: “…when You can be found. Then, when the floodwaters…” Also verses three and five start with when: “When I kept silent…When I acknowledged…”

As I thought about these verses I thought of two other verses, 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Proverbs 1:20-33.

2 Chronicles 7:14 is one of those often quoted but not acted upon verses. “If My people, who are called by My Name will humble themselves and confess their sins; then I will hear from Heaven and I will forgive their sins and I will heal their lands.” (my paraphrase) If and then are the keys words in this verse. If we…then GOD! The responsibility starts with us, we have to be one of those who GOD calls by His Name (not those who call themselves by His Name, study Matthew 7:21-23). Then we have to confess our sins with humility, this leads to repentance. Then He hears our prayers and forgives us and heals our resources.

Proverbs 1:20-33, Wisdom calls aloud in the open air and raises her voice in the public places; she calls out at the street corners and speaks out at entrances to city gates:

“How long, you whose lives have no purpose, will you love thoughtless living? How long will scorners find pleasure in mocking? How long will fools hate knowledge?

Repent when I reprove – I will pour My Spirit to you, I will make My Words known to you.

Because you refused when I called and no one paid attention when I put out My hand, but instead you neglected My counsel and would not accept My reproof; I, in turn, will laugh at your distress, and mock when terror comes over you – yes, when terror overtakes you like a storm and your disaster approaches like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble assail you.

Then they will call Me, but I won’t answer; they will seek Me earnestly, but they won’t find Me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of ADONAI, they refused My counsel and despised My reproof.

So they will bear the consequences of their own way and be filled with their own schemes. For the aimless wandering of the thoughtless will kill them, and the smug overconfidence of fools will destroy them;

But those who pay attention to Me will live securely, untroubled by fear of misfortune.” (CJB)

The key words are; how long, when, then, bear and will; the theme is if we continue to neglect and reject God and His Word then, when we want and need Him we are not guaranteed to receive His blessings and deliverance. This is why many Believers struggle in life, it’s not about legalism but relationship. If we do not have a relationship with God, if we reject His Life, Light and Love then we have no access to His Grace and Mercy. But, when we understand that we are a sinner and if we ask for forgiveness and receive the instruction and wisdom of His Word; then we can count on being in GOD’s Grace and Mercy no matter the circumstances of our life. (Study Revelation 2:9, 13; 3:3-6, 8-10)