Psalm 6:8-9 Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the LORD has heard my weeping.
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
the LORD accepts my prayer.

We don’t know why David had assurance that his prayers had been heard, but such assurance is enormously strengthening. When we know that we and God are on the same side, very little else matters. From our perspective, it feels like we’re getting God on our side, but in the eternal scheme of things, it’s far more a matter of our getting on God’s side. Prayer is ultimately a mystery, because it defies reason that the Creator of the universe would be swayed by the words and tears of creatures such as we are. Even so, the whole Bible, as well as our own experience, tells us that it happens. In fact, time and time again the Bible tells us to ask, to seek God in prayer, that He is waiting for our prayers. The key is probably in acknowledging that we are dependent on Him, that we can’t get the job done on our own. The other half of it is simply that He loves us, as a parent loves their children. Prayer helps us focus on issues, to grasp what they really are. When we are in an attitude of genuine prayer (as apposed to formulaic, rote prayer) then the Holy Spirit can and does direct our words, and we hear things from our own mouths that clarify and direct, and we are enabled to get in line with God’s program. When the Holy Spirit gives us the assurance that we have done that, then our faith becomes unshakable.

My prayer life is very much a work in progress. I am growing, which is a comfort, but I feel I have so much more to learn, so much further to go in flowing with the Holy Spirit in prayer. I do pray often through each day, but I don’t spend as much time in focused prayer as I feel I should. I let prayer issues sneak by me without praying, until problems arise and I am forced to pray. I need to be more proactive in my prayer, participating in God’s plan from the start instead of having to make so many course corrections along the way. Those course corrections can get painful! I desire that the believers pray, and that this be a house of prayer indeed, so I need to teach them what I have been taught. Our midweek prayer meetings are in need of revitalization, and I need to seek and receive God’s wisdom for that. That, however, is the tip of the iceberg. I need to be on my face before the Lord asking Him to pour His Spirit out on us all, because when that happens, we will indeed pray and act according to His will for His glory.

Father, thank You for this Word this morning, and for the circumstances that have prepared me for it. Help me be sensitive to Your Spirit to pray as You intend, in terms of issues, content, and frequency. Keep me from letting things ride or build up. Rather, help me pray immediately, so that I may get in line with what You want to do, for the blessing of Your people and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!