BIG IDEA:
FERVENT PRAYER IS THE PATHWAY TO RESTING IN THE
PRESENCE OF GOD AND THE FAITHFULNESS OF HIS PROMISES
I. (:145-149) FERVENT PRAYER CRIES OUT TO GOD FOR AN ANSWER
A. Fervent Prayer is Whole-Hearted Prayer
"I cried with all my heart "
B. Fervent Prayer is Directed to God
"O Lord"
"I cried to Thee"
C. Fervent Prayer is Answer-Oriented (with the Assumption of God’s Ability to Help)
"answer me"
"save me"
"cry for help"
"I wait for Thy words"
"Revive me"
D. Fervent Prayer has the Goal of Obedience
"I will observe Thy statutes"
"I shall keep Thy testimonies"
E. Fervent Prayer is Unceasing Prayer (takes every Opportunity to come before God)
"I rise before dawn"
"My eyes anticipate the night watches"
F. Fervent Prayer is Reinforced by the Promises of God’s Word
"That I may meditate on Thy word"
G. Fervent Prayer is Rooted in God’s Lovingkindness and God’s Will
"according to Thy lovingkindness"
"according to Thine ordinances"
II. (:150-151) RESTING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
A. Enemies are Near
"Those who follow after wickedness draw near. They are far from Thy law.”
B. God is Nearer
"Thou art near, O Lord, And all Thy commandments are truth.”
III. (:152) RESTING IN THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD’S PROMISES."Of old I have known from Thy testimonies, That Thou hast founded them forever."
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DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:
1) How intense and fervent are my prayers? Do I pray with all my heart?
2) Do I take advantage of opportunities to spend time alone with God in prayer and in meditation in the early morning and the evening?
3) Do we view the Lord as closer to us than our enemies and our problems or do we have difficulty looking past our troubles to find the Lord?
4) Do we have the confidence that God’s Word and promises will stand the test of time? Is our faith established firmly on the sure foundation of the Rock of Ages?
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(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)
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