Deliverance From Difficulties

Deliverance From Difficulties (Psalm 86:1-17)

David’s Model Prayer = Petition, Praise and Prevail

Too many people fail to realize that in order to prevail over life’s difficulties it is necessary to first cry out to God for help and praise Him while we wait for His deliverance.

We can praise God for David’s model prayer in Psalm 86 as it open and closes with petition (verses 1-7 and 14-17) but the heart of the communication revolves around adoration and thanksgiving for the Lord’s greatness.

Quote: Spurgeon said, "I should find it difficult to discover a season in which I have cried unto God and not received deliverance during the whole run and tenor of my life. In hundreds of instances I have had as distinct answers to prayer as if God had thrust his right hand through the blue sky and given right into my lap the bounty which I had sought from him."

When we are seemingly overcome with difficulties, it is God who is our deliverer. He is able to deliver is one of the greatest themes throughout the entire Bible. It reminds me of singing with the veteran missionaries in Nigeria for nearly twenty years it remained their favorite song before our Wednesday evening prayer meetings:

“Tis the grandest theme through the ages rung.

Tis the grandest theme from a mortal tongue

Tis the grandest theme ere the world has sung…

Our God is able to deliver You

Chorus: He is able to deliver thee. He is able to deliver thee. Go to Him for rest. He will hear requests. Our God is able to deliver thee.

David knew this and turned to the Lord at a time when he was afflicted, needy and under attack from arrogant men. God is greater than all problems, people and predicaments. He is the one who promises, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will answer and deliver you from all your troubles.” (Psa 107:13)

When we pray out of a deep felt need we should not cease praying, praising and expecting God to deliver us in a way that pleases Him in all respects and allows us to bear fruit in every good work as we increase in the knowledge and intimacy with God.

Often we need to be like Jacob and wrestle with God in prayer until we prevail. Let us invoke, petition and plea our case before our Savior and Lord with earnestness. David repeats his theme of Psalm 34 where he wrote, “I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all of my fears.” The Lord wants us to be like the widow knocking until we see our petitions granted. Many of us do not have because we do not ask or we ask with wrong motives or we fail to persist in our petitions and praise of God during troubled times.

In this psalm we find an elderly and devout David crying out with a deep trust as he writes, “In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You for You will answer me. For there is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, Nor are there any works like Yours.” (Psa 86:7,8) Age, experience and spiritual maturity allows us to know that everything else but the Lord will disappoint, discourage and depress.

Illustration:Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means, whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is love. There are some things only learned in a fiery furnace.

Oswald Chambers in Run Today’s Race.

Let us remember that we are petitioning and praising an all-sufficient God who is more than adequate to meet our every need. He is the Lord, the owner, the master and the boss of all events, circumstances and adversities. Nothing is too difficult for God. God told Jeremiah, "Behold, I am the God of all flesh, is anything too difficult for me?" (Jer 32:17) Our God is able to do exceedinly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works mightily within us." Jesus said, "The things that are impossible with men become possible with God." (Luke 1:37)

Illustration: Never Ever Give Up!

One of the most beloved and colorful sports personalities of our time was a man named Jim Valvano-"Jimmy V," as sports fans around the country

affectionately knew him. Valvano died on April 16, 1993, after a year- long battle with cancer. He was forty-seven years old. He will he remembered as a

great basketball coach. His North Carolina State team won the national championship in 1983, upsetting that great Houston Cougar team that featured Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Valvano also will he remembered as an outstanding TV analyst, an eloquent inspirational speaker, and a lovable, wisecracking humorist. But most of all, he will be remembered for the courageous way he faced a debilitating illness.