Category Archives: Learning To Pray Effectively

Consequences of Sin, Learning To Pray Effectively, Psalms, Seeking God, Wickedness / Evil

O Lord, Why Do You Stand So Far Away?

David was a man after God’s own heart. He experienced much hardship, made many mistakes, but consistently repented and turned toward God for forgiveness. He had a close relationship with God. Psalms 10 serves as a good reminder that we may feel that sometimes God is “far away” when we look around at the wickedness in the world and affecting our lives.

Psalms 10

1 O Lord, why do you stand so far away?
    Why do you hide when I am in trouble?
2 The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor.
    Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.
3 For they brag about their evil desires;
    they praise the greedy and curse the Lord.

4 The wicked are too proud to seek God.
    They seem to think that God is dead.
5 Yet they succeed in everything they do.
    They do not see your punishment awaiting them.
    They sneer at all their enemies.
6 They think, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us!
    We will be free of trouble forever!”

7 Their mouths are full of cursing, lies, and threats.[a]
    Trouble and evil are on the tips of their tongues.
8 They lurk in ambush in the villages,
    waiting to murder innocent people.
    They are always searching for helpless victims.
9 Like lions crouched in hiding,
    they wait to pounce on the helpless.
Like hunters they capture the helpless
    and drag them away in nets.
10 Their helpless victims are crushed;
    they fall beneath the strength of the wicked.
11 The wicked think, “God isn’t watching us!
    He has closed his eyes and won’t even see what we do!”

12 Arise, O Lord!
    Punish the wicked, O God!
    Do not ignore the helpless!
13 Why do the wicked get away with despising God?
    They think, “God will never call us to account.”
14 But you see the trouble and grief they cause.
    You take note of it and punish them.
The helpless put their trust in you.
    You defend the orphans.

15 Break the arms of these wicked, evil people!
    Go after them until the last one is destroyed.
16 The Lord is king forever and ever!
    The godless nations will vanish from the land.
17 Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless.
    Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.
18 You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed,
    so mere people can no longer terrify them.

We can be encouraged though, that God is never “far away”. He always hears us. He is always aware of what is happening. We can trust He is in control. We can come before Him and call on Him for help to fight or resist the wicked, to help the helpless. He is able.

Above all, however, we must trust in God even when we may be tempted to think He is detached, or “far away”. His ways are above our ways. His plans are often beyond our understanding and vision. Though David was seeking righteousness, we can also understand that some will envy evildoers. God speaks also about avoiding this view.

Psalms 37:1-3

Do not get upset because of evildoers, do not be envious of wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass, and decay like the green plants. Trust in the LORD and do good; live in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 

Put your trust in God even when you see people “getting away with” whatever bad things they are doing. They may even appear to be prospering financially or in other ways. Trust in God and let that lead your heart and mind. Do what is good in God’s eyes. Give Him thanks for His provision and acknowledge that He is still God, all powerful… all knowing… loving… kind… righteous… holy… etc. His ways are above our ways.

Ultimately, all will stand before God in judgment. No one escapes God’s notice, even if they appear to while in the world.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Learning To Pray Effectively, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Protector / Deliverer, Strong in Our Weakness, Thankfulness

I Will Praise You, Lord, with All My Heart

David had a close relationship with God. He frequently sang praises to the Lord. He was not without trials or enemies, quite the opposite. David had many difficulties and trials… enemies trying to defeat him and kill him. David recognized the protecting hand of God in his life and sang praises to God for who He is and what He has already done. David also relies on God to continue to protect him. We should do the same.

Psalms 9

1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
2 I will be filled with joy because of you.
    I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

3 My enemies retreated;
    they staggered and died when you appeared.
4 For you have judged in my favor;
    from your throne you have judged with fairness.
5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
    you have erased their names forever.
6 The enemy is finished, in endless ruins;
    the cities you uprooted are now forgotten.

7 But the Lord reigns forever,
    executing judgment from his throne.
8 He will judge the world with justice
    and rule the nations with fairness.
9 The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,
    a refuge in times of trouble.
10 Those who know your name trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

11 Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem.[a]
    Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds.
12 For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless.
    He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer.

13 Lord, have mercy on me.
    See how my enemies torment me.
    Snatch me back from the jaws of death.
14 Save me so I can praise you publicly at Jerusalem’s gates,
    so I can rejoice that you have rescued me.

15 The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others.
    Their own feet have been caught in the trap they set.
16 The Lord is known for his justice.
    The wicked are trapped by their own deeds.

17 The wicked will go down to the grave.[c]
    This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God.
18 But the needy will not be ignored forever;
    the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.

19 Arise, O Lord!
    Do not let mere mortals defy you!
    Judge the nations!
20 Make them tremble in fear, O Lord.
    Let the nations know they are merely human.

We should challenge ourselves to regularly reflect on the character of God, thank Him and praise Him boldly and to others, and call on Him for help.

We must also remember that God is not just love but is also righteousness and judgment. He is to be loved and feared rather than ignored. We are held accountable for our action or inaction to live out the word of God in our lives. There are real consequences for this life and for our eternal destination with God (heaven) or without God (hell).

Take a few minutes now and pray. Give praise for what God has done and continues to do for you. Thank Him for His promises and protection. Let the hope you find in Him lift your spirits today. He will never leave you nor forsake you. If you need protection or defense from someone, ask Him. Put your faith in Him.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Knowing, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Learning To Pray Effectively, Submitted / Servant, Suffering / Adversity

Let This Cup of Suffering Be Taken Away From Me

In this world we encounter times of anguish and distress. When we turn to God it is important to know how to pray. Some say to pray as if God will give us whatever we ask for, but this is not right. God loves us as a parent who loves their children. Sometimes children do not understand which is the right path and must rely on their parents. We need to trust God in this way.

Immediately before being taken into custody which eventually led to His brutal death on the cross, Jesus showed us how to pray when we are crushed under the weight of despair. He knew what was to happen next.  Matthew 26:36-46

36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away[f] unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

Jesus shows us that we can ask God to take away the suffering, but we should submit to His will. Do not be discouraged if your prayer is not answered the way you want. Do not stop trusting God or turn away from Him. Do not get discouraged and blame yourself for not having enough faith.

God did not “answer” Jesus’ prayer by taking away the suffering, but instead provided a way for all of us to receive salvation through Jesus’ death on the cross. I am glad he did. God knows best.

Take a few minutes in prayer right now. Bring before you any situation for which you need God’s help. Ask Him to take away your suffering, but trust Him regardless of how He answers. Give Him thanks that He provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him and that He gives us hope.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Learning To Pray Effectively, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Psalms, Seeking God

God Is My Protector and My Refuge

So many of the Psalms remind us to seek protection and safety in God. We are reminded that David, though a man after God’s own heart, had many trials in his life. David consistently turned toward God when He was enduring hard times. We should also go to God for help during adversity and storms in our lives.

Psalm 7

1 I come to you for protection, O Lord my God.
    Save me from my persecutors—rescue me!
2 If you don’t, they will maul me like a lion,
    tearing me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3 O Lord my God, if I have done wrong
    or am guilty of injustice,
4 if I have betrayed a friend
    or plundered my enemy without cause,
5 then let my enemies capture me.
    Let them trample me into the ground
    and drag my honor in the dust. Interlude

6 Arise, O Lord, in anger!
    Stand up against the fury of my enemies!
    Wake up, my God, and bring justice!
7 Gather the nations before you.
    Rule over them from on high.
8     The Lord judges the nations.
Declare me righteous, O Lord,
    for I am innocent, O Most High!
9 End the evil of those who are wicked,
    and defend the righteous.
For you look deep within the mind and heart,
    O righteous God.

10 God is my shield,
    saving those whose hearts are true and right.
11 God is an honest judge.
    He is angry with the wicked every day.

12 If a person does not repent,
    God[b] will sharpen his sword;
    he will bend and string his bow.
13 He will prepare his deadly weapons
    and shoot his flaming arrows.

14 The wicked conceive evil;
    they are pregnant with trouble
    and give birth to lies.
15 They dig a deep pit to trap others,
    then fall into it themselves.
16 The trouble they make for others backfires on them.
    The violence they plan falls on their own heads.

17 I will thank the Lord because he is just;
    I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

When David sang this psalm before God he was clearly undergoing significant adversity and felt confident that he was innocent of any wrongdoing.  Once again we are reminded that we will endure many hardships in this life, even when we have a genuine heart for God.

David ends by singing out that he will thank God and sing praise to Him, even while he is still in the midst of the trials. David had strong faith and trust in God. David knew God was bigger than any difficulty he was experiencing. David was a man after God’s own heart.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Compassionate, Discipline / Guidance From God, Learning To Pray Effectively, Psalms

Lord, Have Compassion on Me!

In life, we will have times of grief and difficulty. Everyone does.  I really enjoy the Psalms as encouragement in turning to God when we are experiencing these times. Like David, we can put our faith in our God and Creator. We can ask for compassion and healing.

Psalm 6

1 O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your rage.
2 Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.
    Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
3 I am sick at heart.
    How long, O Lord, until you restore me?

4 Return, O Lord, and rescue me.
    Save me because of your unfailing love.
5 For the dead do not remember you.
    Who can praise you from the grave?[b]

6 I am worn out from sobbing.
    All night I flood my bed with weeping,
    drenching it with my tears.
7 My vision is blurred by grief;
    my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.

8 Go away, all you who do evil,
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my plea;
    the Lord will answer my prayer.
10 May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified.
    May they suddenly turn back in shame.

David starts by acknowledging that his actions are worthy of rebuke from God. He is not leading a perfect, godly life. He accepts that God may be disciplining him, but asks Him not to do so in anger.

David honestly and openly comes before God with humble heart and cries out in prayer that he compassion and healing. He needs God to save him from his difficult situation in life.

David recognizes that God is not saving him because he is worthy, but rather because of God’s unfailing love.

David clearly feels overwhelmed by the situation and his enemies. He cannot overcome the challenge by himself.

David knows even while still praying that God has heard him and his prayer. Further, despite the fact that he is in this difficult time, he still has faith that God will answer his prayer.

Not once does David blame God for his situation, collapse, and give up. He is broken and suffering and comes humbly and faithfully before God for help.

What a beautiful example of how we can approach our loving God when we are in times of difficulty, when we feel totally overwhelmed.

Take a few minutes and ask God to show you how this applies in your life. Have you fully submitted all areas to God? Have you asked Him for compassion and mercy? Have you acknowledged your wrong behavior and attitudes before Him? He knows already anyway.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Compassionate, Faith / Trusting God, Learning To Pray Effectively, Loving / Kind, Miracles, Miracles, Seeking God

The Lord Listens to the Prayers of the Righteous

We can be greatly encouraged that the Lord hears us and considers what we ask of Him. Whatever we are facing, we can bring it before the Lord and make our requests known to Him.

Hezekiah was facing significant challenges. The city was under siege in Isaiah 37 and God delivered it in victory upon the request of Hezekiah. However, God was even more gracious to Hezekiah. In Isaiah 38, Hezekiah got a report that he would die. This report was not from a doctor, but from God through Isaiah! Hezekiah pleaded with God and God granted him 15 more years to live!

How awesome that our God desires to draw near to us in a real relationship with us. He is not some distant ruler who sends out decrees upon what will happen. He is a loving father and master. He cares for us! He listens and considers what we ask!

Isaiah 38

Hezekiah Healed

      1In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’” 2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3and said, “Remember now, O LORD, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

      4Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, 5“Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6“I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city.”’

      7“This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that He has spoken: 8“Behold, I will cause the shadow on the stairway, which has gone down with the sun on the stairway of Ahaz, to go back ten steps.” So the sun’s shadow went back ten steps on the stairway on which it had gone down.

      9A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:

      10I said, “In the middle of my life
I am to enter the gates of Sheol;
I am to be deprived of the rest of my years.”

      11I said, “I will not see the LORD,
The LORD in the land of the living;
I will look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world.

      12“Like a shepherd’s tent my dwelling is pulled up and removed from me;
As a weaver I rolled up my life.
He cuts me off from the loom;
From day until night You make an end of me.

      13“I composed my soul until morning.
Like a lion—so He breaks all my bones,
From day until night You make an end of me.

      14“Like a swallow, like a crane, so I twitter;
I moan like a dove;
My eyes look wistfully to the heights;
O Lord, I am oppressed, be my security.

      15“What shall I say?
For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it;
I will wander about all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.

      16“O Lord, by these things men live,
And in all these is the life of my spirit;
O restore me to health and let me live!

      17“Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness;
It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness,
For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

      18“For Sheol cannot thank You,
Death cannot praise You;
Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.

      19“It is the living who give thanks to You, as I do today;
A father tells his sons about Your faithfulness.

      20“The LORD will surely save me;
So we will play my songs on stringed instruments
All the days of our life at the house of the LORD.”

      21Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may recover.” 22Then Hezekiah had said, “What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?”

Thank you, Lord, for your grace, mercy, and love toward us! You and you alone are God. You are the master of the universe. There are none like you.  Thank you for listening to us!

Take a few minutes and prayerfully reflect on the fact that the creator of the universe wants you to draw near to Him and to be in a close relationship with Him. He does not simply have one-way communication with us, like a distant ruler. He speaks and listens to us. He considers what we ask of Him. How awesome is that!

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Learning To Pray Effectively, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Wickedness / Evil, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Great Is the Lord and Highly to Be Praised

It is all too easy to take for granted having a relationship with the LORD. Let us remember to praise him, even during difficult times!

Psalm 145

The LORD Extolled for His Goodness.

A Psalm of Praise, of David.

1I will extol You, my God, O King,
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

2Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

3Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised,
And His greatness is unsearchable.

4One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.

5On the glorious splendor of Your majesty
And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.

6Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts,
And I will tell of Your greatness.

7They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness
And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

8The LORD is gracious and merciful;
Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.

9The LORD is good to all,
And His mercies are over all His works.

10All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD,
And Your godly ones shall bless You.

11They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom
And talk of Your power;

12To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts
And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom.

13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

14The LORD sustains all who fall
And raises up all who are bowed down.

15The eyes of all look to You,
And You give them their food in due time.

16You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17The LORD is righteous in all His ways
And kind in all His deeds.

18The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.

19He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He will also hear their cry and will save them.

20The LORD keeps all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.

21My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,
And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Blessed, Learning To Pray Effectively, Loving / Kind, Money / Finances / Wealth, Protector / Deliverer, Thankfulness

How Blessed Are the People Whose God Is The LORD!

I really appreciate the example David sets in his psalms. He prays to the LORD and asks for help, yes, but he first focuses on praising and recognizing YHWH for who he is and what he has done. He does not simply jump into a list of requests or demands. He comes before YHWH with humility and thankfulness and focuses first on the greatness of our God.

Psalms 144

Prayer for Rescue and Prosperity.

A Psalm of David.

1Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle;

2My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My stronghold and my deliverer,
My shield and He in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues my people under me.

3O LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that You think of him?

4Man is like a mere breath;
His days are like a passing shadow.

5Bow Your heavens, O LORD, and come down;
Touch the mountains, that they may smoke.

6Flash forth lightning and scatter them;
Send out Your arrows and confuse them.

7Stretch forth Your hand from on high;
Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters,
Out of the hand of aliens

8Whose mouths speak deceit,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

9I will sing a new song to You, O God;
Upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,

10Who gives salvation to kings,
Who rescues David His servant from the evil sword.

11Rescue me and deliver me out of the hand of aliens,
Whose mouth speaks deceit
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

12Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants,
And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace;

13Let our garners be full, furnishing every kind of produce,
And our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;

14Let our cattle bear
Without mishap and without loss,
Let there be no outcry in our streets!

15How blessed are the people who are so situated;
How blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Learning To Pray Effectively, Loving / Kind, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Teachable

Hear My Prayer, O’ LORD

This prayer continues to be relevant in our lives today. I have grown to love the Psalms and to apply them in my life. Of course, we have the benefit of Yeshua acting as our mediator between us and God. However, God wants us to bring to Him our prayers and supplicaitons.

Psalm 143

Prayer for Deliverance and Guidance.

A Psalm of David.

     1Hear my prayer, O LORD,
Give ear to my supplications!
Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness!

      2And do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no man living is righteous.

      3For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.

      4Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart is appalled within me.

      5I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your doings;
I muse on the work of Your hands.

      6I stretch out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You, as a parched land.

Selah.

      7Answer me quickly, O LORD, my spirit fails;
Do not hide Your face from me,
Or I will become like those who go down to the pit.

      8Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning;
For I trust in You;
Teach me the way in which I should walk;
For to You I lift up my soul.

      9Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies;
I take refuge in You.

      10Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

      11For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me.
In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.

      12And in Your lovingkindness, cut off my enemies
And destroy all those who afflict my soul,
For I am Your servant.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Faithful, Learning To Pray Effectively, Protector / Deliverer, Seeking God

Come Openly and Honestly to the LORD in Times of Trouble

We do not need “special” or “long” prayers in order to cry out to YHWH when we are experiencing trouble. Simply cry out for help and submit yourself to him in an open and honest way. Of course, let us also remember to submit to him and maintain a close relationship with him when times are good as well. We should not ignore him and then come to him only when we are in trouble.

Psalm 142

Prayer for Help in Trouble.

Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.

     1I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD;
I make supplication with my voice to the LORD.

      2I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my trouble before Him.

      3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
You knew my path.
In the way where I walk
They have hidden a trap for me.

      4Look to the right and see;
For there is no one who regards me;
There is no escape for me;
No one cares for my soul.

      5I cried out to You, O LORD;
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.

      6“Give heed to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are too strong for me.

      7“Bring my soul out of prison,
So that I may give thanks to Your name;
The righteous will surround me,
For You will deal bountifully with me.”

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.