Cry Out



Prayer: What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry Ev’rything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit; Oh, what needless pain we bear—
All because we do not carry Ev’rything to God in prayer!

Read: Psalm 5
http://www.esvbible.org/Psalm 5

Think about It: A few weeks ago, we discussed the discipline of spiritual journaling. It is an ancient practice which is recorded for us in book of Psalms. David is credited with at least 70 of the 150 psalms found in our Bible and they are considered his “prayer book”. In them you find an expression of the genuine relationship between God and David. In fact some people avoid the “lamenting” psalms for many of them are cries of anguish and sorrow as life deals blows to a true believer. Psalm 5 opens with some words that indicate to us that David is in a time a struggle at the writing of this prayer. There is some disagreement as to just exactly which point in David’s life this Psalm refers but that really doesn’t matter. It is the heartfelt cry of a man who knows that God is the ultimate and final power in the universe.

Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

In these 3 sentences we find yet another golden model of what prayer looks like. It is the personal expression of what’s going on inside of this man. We can relate to David’s words because each of us knows what it means to cry out for help to the only One who is able to provide that help. Here we see that David comes to the Lord first thing in the morning for the day must begin before His throne. A sacrifice is prepared and then …. David watches! The word here  indicates that David watches like a spy, waiting to see what the Lord will do! His reliance is upon a powerful and perfect God who always knows what to do and David is willing to allow God to move. David is willing to let God take care of the difficult situation as he surrenders his enemies into God’s hands. It is a bold move and one that challenges us. Watching and waiting is tough. We’d rather instigate a little action. But that isn’t surrender. That’s us trying to take care of the problems ourselves.

David asks the Lord to consider his groaning. These are serious petitions from a man who knows that he is in desperate need of a Savior. Paul echoes these words in Romans 8:26. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Here we are taught that the Holy Spirit become our interpreter when we don’t know what to say ourselves. Some pain simply defies words. That’s okay for the Lord hears the words of the heart just as clearly as He hears our spoken or thought words. So if your prayers aren’t a perfectly eloquent combination of words, that’s okay. In fact, it’s probably best.

Prayer: And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keepin' you back from your life You believe that there's nothing
And there is no one who can make it right
There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary
And love for the broken hearts
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are Cry out to Jesus Cry out to Jesus
©2005 Consuming Fire Music. Third Day. CCLI#551204

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