SUCCESSFUL PRAYER
Part 1


A. "IN THE DAY WHEN I CRIED THOU ANSWEREDST ME, AND STRENGTHENEDST ME WITH STRENGTH IN MY SOUL." - Ps. 138:1-3
  1. Our text reveals that David was a man of prayer:
    1. "O thou that hearest prayer" - Ps. 65:2
    2. "He will regard the prayer of the destitute" - Ps. 102:17
    3. "I give myself unto prayer" - Ps. 109:4
  2. His testimony, in our opening text, must have come after God had delivered him from the hand of his son Solomon:
    1. His prayer is an expression of gratitude - Ps. 26:7; 50:14
    2. It is noteworthy that most of the Psalms written by David are an expression of heartfelt gratitude to God - Ps. 107:22
B. LET US ATTEMPT TO ANALYZE OUR OPENING TEXT
  1. "When I cried":
    1. Earnest prayer, as recorded in the Bible, is often expressed in words like these, "looking" (Mark 7:34); "waiting" (Ps. 59:9); "calling" (Jer. 33:3); "seeking" (Ps. 63:1).
    2. "When I cried" -
      1. An expression of a sense of urgent and deep need. This is basically essential for prayer to be successful.
      2. Sensing our utter dependence upon God is also expressed in such prayers - Matt. 14:30
  2. Such a cry to God indicates complete confidence in the Lord, that He will hear our prayer:
    1. Experience shows that God does hear the prayer of His children.
    2. "Call unto me, and I will answer thee" - Jer. 33:3
    3. "When I cried thou answeredst me" - Ps. 138:1-3
  3. This is the unanimous testimony of all men of prayer in all ages:
    1. Volumes have been written in tribute to the prayer life of God's children.
    2. All this because God loves His people and He delights in hearing their prayers.
  4. In the day I cried thou answeredst me:
    1. Instant answers to prayer are recorded in the Bible - EXAMPLES -
      1. Daniel's prayer was answered very swiftly - Dan. 9:20-23
      2. Peter's prayer was answered quickly - Matt. 14:30, 31
      3. The prayer of the church, as recorded in Acts 4 was answered very quickly - Acts 4:31
    2. But there are times when the answer to prayer is delayed.
    3. Such delays are caused by certain obstacles in the lives of the people; it may be a secret sin in the life of a person - Ps. 66:18
    4. There are times when circumstances in the lives of other people cause delays to answers of our prayers.
C. BLESSING OF ANSWERED PRAYER
  1. Strength for the soul:
    1. Soul strength is the very life of God's children.
    2. The Lord does not always remove the pressure from life, but He gives soul strength to stand up under such pressure - EXAMPLES -
      1. The Father of our Lord Jesus did not take away the cup from His Son, but He commissioned an angel to strengthen him - Luke 22:43
      2. God did not remove the difficulty out of Paul's life, but he gave him soul strength to glory in weakness - 2 Cor. 12:9
  2. Our manifold need for soul strength:
    1. We need strength to do the will of God at all times - 1 Pet. 5:10
    2. Strength to endure afflictions for the cause of God - 2 Tim. 4:17
    3. Strength to endure unto the end - Eph. 3:20; 1 Cor. 15:57, 58
    4. Strength to love when we are hated; to bless when we are cursed - Matt. 5:44
    5. Strength to live a victorious life in this present sinful world - Phil. 4:13
  3. Does your prayer include all these needs?


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