PERSONALIZED PRAYER


A. "O LORD GOD OF MY SALVATION, I HAVE CRIED DAY AND NIGHT BEFORE THEE; LET MY PRAYER COME BEFORE THEE; INCLINE THINE EAR UNTO MY CRY" - PSALMS 88:1-2
  1. When we read the whole chapter, we learn:
    1. That the Psalmist was in deep trouble - verse 8
    2. That he was very much concerned that the enemy of his soul would destroy him
  2. His appeal to the Lord God of his life:
    1. Was highly personal - "O Lord God of my salvation," "Let my prayer come before Thee, incline thine ear unto my cry"
    2. There is much food for serious thought; to make our prayer more personalized and to the point
B. LET US NOTE SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF A PERSONALIZED PRAYER AND WHAT IT INDICATES
  1. It indicates a personal relationship:
    1. Our Saviour used His personal relation in the darkest hour of His earthly ministry, "My God, My God" - Matt. 27:46
    2. This indicates further that our personal relation with the Lord may be recognized and felt; Examples: Job felt it, "I know that my Redeemer liveth" - Job 19:25; Paul felt his personal relationship to God, "For I know in whom I have believed" - 2 Tim. 1:12
    3. Said Paul to the Athenians, "That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from everyone of us" - Acts 19:27
  2. The personalized relationship brings a sense of security, because it is based upon God's relationship to us:
    1. That was the great secret of the three Hebrews - Dan. 3:17-19
    2. That gave young David boldness to meet Goliath - I Sam. 17:12-46
    3. Said David, yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me" - Ps. 23:4
  3. The sense of personal relationship with God steadies us amid the changing scenes of life:
    1. "As thy days so shall thy strength be" - Deut. 33:25
    2. Said Job to his wife, "What? shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil?" - Job 2:10
C. THERE ARE TWO MORE BLESSINGS; THE SENSE OF A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD GIVES WORTHY OF VERY SPECIAL NOTICE BY THE PEOPLE OF GOD
  1. The sense of personal relationship with God when wrestling with difficulties:
    1. Keeps calm and peaceful, for our mind is stayed on God - "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon Thee" - Is. 26:3
    2. This is one of the great secrets of the peace of the martyrs of Christ during the dark ages - they saw the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world
    3. To know that my heavenly Father loves me and cares for me puts my soul at rest, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" - Ps. 27:1
  2. Most important of all, the sense of personal relation with God gives us an unfailing plea in seeking divine help:
    1. Said Jesus to His Father, "I know that thou hearest me always" - John 11:41-42
    2. Said our Lord to the disciples, "If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him" - Matt. 7:7-11
    3. Dear Friend, if you were the only being in this world and art a sincere believer in Jesus Christ, your relationship with Him opens heaven wide, and gives you free access to the storehouse of God's blessings
    4. "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ" - Rom 8:17
    5. These are but a few thoughts on personalized prayer; its dimensions increase as we think of our personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Lord


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