PRAYER GETTING IN FRONT OF GOD


A. "IN THE MORNING SHALL MY PRAYER PREVENT THEE" - PSALMS 88:13
  1. The idea is singular:
    1. It is based upon the older meaning of the word - "prevent" go before you
    2. "I will come into your presence in time
  2. Such a schedule for prayer is most revealing:
    1. It indicates deep earnestness on the part of the petitioner
    2. It is based upon an irrevocable decision to pray
B. PRAYER GETTING IN FRONT OF GOD
  1. "In the morning shall my prayer prevent thee":
    1. That simply means - an audience with thee, my God is the first duty of my life - prayer to you comes first, and all else is secondary
    2. That program is to God's liking - "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven" - Matt. 6:33
    3. For it is written, "He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life" - Pr. 21:21; Examples: King Solomon followed this approach to God in prayer - I Kings 3:11-13; Hezekiah followed the plan - 2 Chron. 31:20-21; and so did the Son of man - Mark 1:35
  2. This earnest prayer - resolve is most revealing:
    1. It shows that the Psalmist had great confidence in prayer; in fact, to Him prayer was the very foundation of his life
    2. It shows further, that our relationship with God is and ever should be the first business of the day
    3. That means that I want to make sure that my plans are in harmony with God's plans for me - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways" - Is. 55:8; "Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel" - Ps. 24
    4. The counsel of the most High is the safest counsel to be had by mortal man - that was the great sin of ancient Israel - when they refused to follow the counsel of the Most High - Ps. 107:11
  3. Of course, the Psalmist knew that he could never get ahead of the Lord - not even with his prayer:
    1. David acknowledged that - Ps. 13:1-11
    2. God knows our thoughts afar off - Ps. 94:11
C. WHAT A PRAYER LESSON FOR GOD'S PEOPLE
  1. To begin the day with God:
    1. that is what the Psalmist did according to our opening text
    2. That is what Jesus did - Mark 1:35
  2. Such a program puts the prayer life into a new and blessed perspective:
    1. The prayer counsel in the prayer closet is our first serious business - Matt. 6:6
    2. Our Saviour used the lonely places of the mountains - Matt. 14:23; 5:1-3; 15:29
    3. Jacob prayed at the water-brook of Jabbock - Gen. 32:22-29
  3. Of course, that does not minimize earnest prayer:
    1. During the night season - Acts 16:25
    2. Or any hour of the day - I Thes. 5:17
    3. Morning, noon, and evening prayers are very much in place - Dan. 6:10
  4. What is suggested in our opening text is:
    1. That the Psalmist was a man of deep convictions and carried those convictions into his prayer life
    2. He had great confidence in th3 merits of earnest supplication before the Lord, and in this he never was disappointed
    3. It puts prayer into a new and useful perspective worthy of our prayerful consideration
  5. Think of it, dear friends, what our life would be like:
    1. It we were always so deeply in earnest to seek our God in prayer - that we could use wisely the word - "prevent" - come right before your face - bring your full attention to my need
    2. If our first waking moments were used to hasten to the prayer room and listen to the counsel of our heavenly Father
    3. Such counsel would affect all our plans for the day - it might cancel some of them for our own good
    4. It would give us peace and full assurance all the day long - Is. 26:3-4
    5. Can we, in the light of this message think of ourselves as being true Christians, and not follow the plan outlined in this study?


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