Who's your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father: The polishing power of prayer

Who's your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father: The polishing power of prayer: “ In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.   May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.   May he send you...

The polishing power of prayer

“In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.  May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.  May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem.  May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.  May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.  May the Lord answer all your prayers.  Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king.  He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power.  Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.  Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.  Give victory to our king, O Lord!  Answer our cry for help.” (Psalm 20:1-9/NIV)

King David knew the power of prayer and he never failed to ask for it.  Prayer was so vital to David that he instructed his people to pray specifically for him as noted in Psalms 20:1-9.  Known as one of the greatest, yet most controversial leaders of his time, David understood the rescuing power that awaited him when he asked for prayer.  His passion for God’s anointing on his life was only secondary to his love for God.  We would think that such an esteemed and well known biblical figure would have a pristine, cleaned-up life; but David’s life was far from either one of those assumptions.  David was a passionate man after God’s own heart with a messy, imperfect life whose sins often sought him out publically. 

Perhaps, David’s imperfections, failures and roughened life were likely what endeared him the most to God.  It is hard for us to imagine that God wants us just as we are when the world does not.  In today's 'who's who' driven society,  it is difficult at best to think the CEO of the universe is not looking for polished people, but people who need polishing.  Most would envision God standing ready to condemn our lives, when David saw God standing ready to rescue them through the empowerment of prayer. 

Thoughts to live by:  God rescues, polishes and empowers lives through the faithful prayers of His people.

“Who’s your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father” devotionals (Pat Ferguson © Copyright 2013)