Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer: page 6-7
Scripture
reference: Psalm 3:-15
What did you learn about
David in verses 1 and 2? How would you describe his emotions at this
point?
Even his
own son is against him, and he is heartbroken.
The word but in verse 3 signals a
contrast, a change in direction. According to verses 4 and 5, what
actions did David take in the midst of his enemies and their taunting, and why
did he pursue this course of action?
He turned
to and called God by Name. He pursued this course because he knew His
God.
What phrase is used in this
passage to describe prayer?
Crying out
to the Lord.
When God answered David's
prayer, how did David respond? What shift does this indicate from the
emotions he felt at the start of the prayer?
Think of a time you felt
worried or oppressed, when it seemed all the odds were against you. What
did you do?
I usually
cry real tears :-/ instead of cry out praises. It's an area where I
need to grow.
Discuss what you've learned
about prayer from this passage and how you can apply it to your life.
The
phrase crying out in verse 4
is the Hebrew word qara (7121)
which means to call out loudly in order to get someone's attention so that
contact can be initiated. Calling out to God in the sense of
summoning God to one's aid, constituting a prayer prompted by recognized need
and directed to One who is able and willing to respond.
As I looked at other uses of this word qara, I
found that it is the same word used when God called/qara the day day and the
night night. I'd encourage you to use the BlueLetterBible http://www.blueletterbible.org/ and find other uses of this word so you can
understand its meaning more clearly.
When we
know the various Names of God, it will help us to call out to Him more
specifically. That would be a good study one day.
Personal Application:
Here's a link to a song that's appropriate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO4uIyz_d90
When I
look at the problems or trials rising up against me, I may agree with others
who think there is no deliverance, so I fret.
But when I
look at the Lord, I see my Protector, my Shield, and then I can call Him by
Name, trusting that He hears me (which may be the only response I will get at
the time: knowing that He hears), and rest in Him, knowing that He will brace
or sustain me throughout the problem or the trial.
Looking
forward to your additions, insights, comments, testimonies.
Thank You,
Lord, that You hear my prayers,
Linda
Moderator
P.S. I
understood the word Selah to
mean "pause for a moment and think about what you just
heard/read."
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