Trusting God with every prayer we make is difficult. Often, we pray for a specific situation and “give it to God.” But immediately after we’re done praying, we take the worry, anxiety, and fear right back. This action tells God that we don’t fully trust Him with our issues or prayers. Did you know that God commands us to trust Him? Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) instructs us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
After Moses died and Joshua was now in charge of bringing the Israelites to the promised land, he was afraid – and with reason. Bug God encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous and to study the Bible and meditate in it day and night. In Joshua 1:9 God told Joshua, “I command you—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Fear is Lack of Faith
Did you know fear is lack of faith? In 2 Timothy 1:7-8 (a letter from Paul to Timothy), Paul reminds Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So you must never be ashamed to tell others about the Lord.” So, how do we overcome fear and how can we fully trust the Lord with every one of our prayers? We do it by faith. There is so much to pray about… and there are so many people to pray for. We could pray all day, full-time!
Pray at All Times
The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:10-12, “A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those might powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicket spirits in the heavenly realms… v18 Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.”
Prayer is a monumental weapon against the enemy and we don’t pray enough. I am not talking about repeating a prayer over and over. I’m referring to praying from our hearts with a deep heartful prayer, pleading to God for our needs and for the needs of others. I’m talking getting on our needs imploring to God to forgive our nation and heal our land. Like King David did.
Prayers from King David.
King David had a personal relationship with God, and he talked to God all the time. His prayers were personal, deep, and heartfelt. And they touched the heart of God. Below are examples of sincere prayers that David prayed in his time of need. Notice that David talked to God as his friend, his father, savior, protector, provider and many other things.
Prayers of supplication
Psalm 5:3 Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Psalm 17:6 I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. Psalm 17:1 O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from an honest heart.
Prayers for wisdom
Psalm 5:8 Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Tell me clearly what to do, and show me which way to turn. Psalm 16:11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
Prayers of thankfulness
Psalm 9:1 I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Prayers for protection
Palm 16:1 Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. Psalm 17:8 Guard me as the apple of your eye. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
Prayers of love
Psalm 18:1 I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold.
Prayers of forgiveness
Psalm 32:5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Just as David’s prayers touched God’s heart, so can our prayers. Our prayers don’t have to be sophisticated or use complex words. Simple, to the point, and from the heart. Like when you’re talking to your best friend. You are a child of God and He hears you and every one of your prayers, always. I leave you with one of my favorite Psalms of David:
Psalm 37:3-5 (NLT) Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.