Psalm 5 ~ O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice

Psalm 5

Give ear to my words, O Lord;
consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.


4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.


7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in the fear of you.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me.

9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.


11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover him with favor as with a shield.

 What about prayer?

James 4:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person availeth much.

Without the Power in the Name of Jesus, not much is accomplished. Especially when we Know Jesus came to save sinners. However when we ask for HIS will earnestly, explaining to Him from willing hearts, anticipating His goodness in wanting to save the entire world, giving HIM the humility of knowing His will is wonderful, then in the still of a quiet heart - His Word goes forth - on this we can completely trust - lives change and the weary world rejoices.

Hospitals and huge doctors offices give me the shudders. My son was in the Neonatal Ward for Christmas about two decades ago; the feeling is of the world out there in bustling joy while you are in deep sinking fear. Hospitals help so many people, but I'd just rather not see a sign that says nuclear medicine and have life flights coming in. The fear is palatable and I long for my home and velor blanket like Linus.

What can we do when buying the world a Coke isn't really an option -

Philemon

4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ

Which is going to please our Father God more...

A) Thinking, "And that poor soul with that affliction - oh man - I totally forgot to pray. Wow, I'm so wrong. I'm so bad at this prayer thing. I'd hate that to happen to me. Oh...now there's a prayer. Dang. I'm bad at prayer. Okay here goes" - ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Lorddddddddd waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay over there. Up there. Um. Heavenly Father (dang I'm bad at this) could you please (man, this never works) and (does He really care...what are the chances...) OH. Um and please move YOURRRR HAND and um Heal. Amen. Oh. In Jesus. um that. (Well, that prayer hit the ceiling onnnnne moooooore time.)

B) Love fills our heart. And worry and selfish concern. A little guilt maybe. Or perhaps a BING on your only eternal part - your soul. Maybe even a sigh. God might chuckle. He can address this in a letter to you. The Holy Spirit helps you, even your weakness. You don't know what to pray, your Father God Himself intercedes for you with groanings you have difficulty bringing forth reasonably. He searches hearts knowing what is on your mind, and of the Spirit, because Jesus intercedes for us according to the will of God. Romans 8:26.

Now flowchart with me - if prayer A shows up... swat it down with prayer B. And repeat. Endlessly!!! God is the Spirit who had His first sign - making wine for His Mom - at a party. Now tell me that He did not consume wine at parties.

Luke 7:34
The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

Matthew 11:19
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved right by her deeds."

Who said "The Joy of the Lord is my Strength"? Jesus.

Who said "the prayer of a righteous person availeth much"? Same Spirit. Those who seek Jesus earnestly - find Him. How do we know? His Word.

Proverbs 8:17 - Bronze Age Solomon
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

Deuteronomy 4:29 - Moses age Long Ago.
If you will seek the LORD your God, then you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and soul.

Isaiah 55:6-7 - 700 years before Jesus
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

The Dead Sea scrolls remind us the Scriptures  (also draw information from the Septuagint - amazing)  match these Dead Sea scrolls showing these papyrus were so intent to be accurate  - they fit together almost perfectly. Saying God wants to save the entire world.

Continuing to James, the Brother of Jesus - commented upon in a rebuke fashion a few, sibling, times in Scripture for James being "of the world."

James 4:8
Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

God loves you. Mark 6:34
Jesus has compassion on you, because you were like sheep without a shepherd. So He began teaching

There are extensive needs around us all the time - God loves when we give HIM our thoughts that dart in and out and turn that into prayer for those we know of needing prayer. My Church and my neighborhood have seen prayers answered and this only gives HIM more gladness to pour out a blessing. Prayer is effective. We have to believe our conversations to HIM are like the Syrian woman who gave Jesus humility in our earnestness and Love.

 

we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture

Father God, we open our hearts to You. So many extensive needs. So many unspoken needs. We ask You to be earnestly present and bring forth Heaven to earth in Your Will and Your Way, Truth, and Life. In Jesus. Amen!

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