“I cry out to the Lord with my voice.”
“I pour out my complaint before Him.”
“I declare before Him my trouble.” [1]
David’s spirit was overwhelmed within him. Those who hated the Lord had laid traps for him. No one acknowledged him. No one cared for his soul. [2]
What did he do? He cried out, poured out and declared his trouble to the Lord. People constantly brought their troubles to Jesus and He helped them. They came boldly to Him.
“Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your Name. You shall deal bountifully with me.” [3]
The Lord tells us how to pray: “He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” [4] David prayed with confidence and diligence...
“Hear my prayer”
“Give ear to my supplications!”
“In Your faithfulness answer me.”
“I spread out my hands to You.” [5]
Is your need time-sensitive? You may pray petitions from the Bible like these...
“Answer me speedily.”
“Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning.”
“Deliver me, O Lord.” [6]
A good prayer to pray is for deliverance from lies. The devil is always telling lies against the Lord and against people. “Rescue me and deliver me from... lying words, and... falsehood—that our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style; that our barns may be full, supplying all kinds of produce; that our sheep may bring forth 1,000’s and 10,000’s in our fields; that our oxen may be well laden; that there be no breaking in or going out; that there be no outcry in our streets. Happy are the people who are in such a state; happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” [7]
When Hezekiah’s nation was surrounded by an enemy army. The enemy had told Hezekiah that his situation was hopeless and that God would not help him. Hezekiah demonstrated to the Lord his inner grief with outward actions. He tore his clothes and put on sackcloth. He asked Isaiah the prophet to pray. Do you know anyone who prays to the Lord? Ask them to join you in prayer for the need you have. Jesus urged us to pray together. Hezekiah didn’t hide his problem. He brought it out into the open to his prayer partner Isaiah, saying, “This day is a day of trouble.” He asked Isaiah to lift up a prayer. Isaiah prayed and got a word of faith from the Lord. He knew by faith that the victory was won before it manifested in the physical realm. [8]
Hezekiah placed his prayer in written form before the Lord in the Lord’s house. I have seen this done where people write their prayer requests on sticky notes and stick them to a cross in the church sanctuary. Hezekiah ended his prayer, saying, “Now therefore, O Lord our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord God, You alone.” [9] He connected his need for an answered prayer to God’s honor.
Jesus said, “Whatsoever you shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask any thing in My Name, I will do it.” [10] This is why we always pray in the Name of Jesus.
God answered Hezekiah’s prayer by sending one angel to slay 185,000 enemy soldiers in the night. When the enemy leader returned to his home country, his sons killed him. [11]
After that, Hezekiah learned that he only had a short time to live. He wept bitterly before the Lord. The Lord told him, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. And I will add to your days 15 years.” [12]
James wrote, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” [13]
Faith in Christ’s shed blood on the cross to wash away one’s sin is what makes a person righteous before God. Such a one is a righteous person and therefore can pray prayers of faith in God’s power and willingness to help in time of need. As the writer of Hebrews put it, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” [14]
[1] Psalm 142:1-2
[2] Psalm 142:3-4
[3] Psalm 142:7
[4] Hebrews 4:6
[5] Psalm 143:1, 6
[6] Psalm 143:7-9
[7] Psalm 144:11-13
[8] 2 Kings 19:1-7; Matthew 18:19-20
[9] 2 Kings 19:14-19
[10] John 14:13-14
[11] 2 Kings 19:35-37
[12] 2 Kings 20:1-6
[13] James 5:16
[14] Hebrews 4:16
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