Scripture to Read: Psalm 142:2
We all have days when everything seems to go our way. We are in right fellowship with our Lord, our family, and our friends, and life seems good. Then there are those days when nothing seems to be going right. We feel distant from our Lord, even though we know He lives in us. We seem to be having conflicts with family members and even our friends. God had David share his heart in the conflict he was going through. We read in Psalm 142:2, “I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him.” Some people feel like it is not appropriate to complain before the Lord, but God already knows our hearts. Therefore, we must be honest with ourselves as we come before God’s throne of grace. That is what God is showing us through David. David was not afraid to lay out his complaint and the trouble he was going through. God loves to meet our needs and promises to do so. That does not mean that He stops the tests and trials altogether; it means that He carries us through them and teaches us along the way. Therefore, we should never feel intimidated to share with God what’s on our hearts and to declare to Him everything we’re facing. God promises us in Philippians 4:7 that as we pray and lay our needs, hurts, despair, complaints, and anything else we need to share with Him, “… the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Good news indeed.
Challenge & Application
· From what you learned today, what does God want us to do as we pray each day?
· How are you doing being fully transparent with God, knowing He already knows our hearts completely?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!