Psalm 31
Today's Passage: Psalm 31
Who is God to you?
As we read Psalm 31, we see David’s pitiful circumstances yet again. One commentator wrote that, “Psalm 31 is another ‘psalm of David’ in a time of great need, a prayer from one who was despised, defamed, and persecuted. So much of David’s life was spent in this condition that the Book of Psalms includes many of his prayers that grew out of such situations.” However, as I meditate on Psalm 31 this morning, what stands out isn’t David’s circumstances. It’s how he describes and understands who God is.
As we look through this Psalm David sees God as: a “refuge,” One who will not bring shame, One who is righteous and capable of deliverance, One who hears (incline your ear), a rock and refuge, a strong fortress. And that’s just the first two verses.
Reading this passage, I’m reminded that our prayer life is helped or hindered by how we view God’s character and capability. If we see God as uncaring or unable to help, we won’t pray. If God seems impersonal or like a dismissive father, we won’t pray. Those who pray as a regular part of their lives believe that God hears, cares about our good and His glory, and has the power bring about the greatest good—even that means saying “no” to one of our requests.
As I discuss prayer with the guys I disciple, I share a few of the things I’ve learned and observed over the years—much of which I learned from Tim Parsons. From Tim I learned that people should pray both “continually,” in an ongoing conversation with God, and “strategically,” in a structured time with a list.
Seeing how God answers prayer requires us to remember the prayers we pray. I know many people, myself included, that toss up prayers without remembering them at all. Then, on occasion, remembering that you prayed for something only to realize that God did in fact answer the prayer you’d forgotten. When we’re strategic, when we’re fervent in our prayer, it opens our eyes to see God’s response. Not only that, but it opens our eyes to see how he’s shaping us through the circumstances of life.
Again, who is God to you? As we pray, and as we see God move, it changes our view of Him. Our views and prayer must be informed by His revealed Word. However, as we grow in our relationship with Him, we can increasingly trust in God’s character and capability.
Written By: Tyler Short
Who is God to you?
As we read Psalm 31, we see David’s pitiful circumstances yet again. One commentator wrote that, “Psalm 31 is another ‘psalm of David’ in a time of great need, a prayer from one who was despised, defamed, and persecuted. So much of David’s life was spent in this condition that the Book of Psalms includes many of his prayers that grew out of such situations.” However, as I meditate on Psalm 31 this morning, what stands out isn’t David’s circumstances. It’s how he describes and understands who God is.
As we look through this Psalm David sees God as: a “refuge,” One who will not bring shame, One who is righteous and capable of deliverance, One who hears (incline your ear), a rock and refuge, a strong fortress. And that’s just the first two verses.
Reading this passage, I’m reminded that our prayer life is helped or hindered by how we view God’s character and capability. If we see God as uncaring or unable to help, we won’t pray. If God seems impersonal or like a dismissive father, we won’t pray. Those who pray as a regular part of their lives believe that God hears, cares about our good and His glory, and has the power bring about the greatest good—even that means saying “no” to one of our requests.
As I discuss prayer with the guys I disciple, I share a few of the things I’ve learned and observed over the years—much of which I learned from Tim Parsons. From Tim I learned that people should pray both “continually,” in an ongoing conversation with God, and “strategically,” in a structured time with a list.
Seeing how God answers prayer requires us to remember the prayers we pray. I know many people, myself included, that toss up prayers without remembering them at all. Then, on occasion, remembering that you prayed for something only to realize that God did in fact answer the prayer you’d forgotten. When we’re strategic, when we’re fervent in our prayer, it opens our eyes to see God’s response. Not only that, but it opens our eyes to see how he’s shaping us through the circumstances of life.
Again, who is God to you? As we pray, and as we see God move, it changes our view of Him. Our views and prayer must be informed by His revealed Word. However, as we grow in our relationship with Him, we can increasingly trust in God’s character and capability.
Written By: Tyler Short
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