Prayers of the Old Testament
The Prayer of David continued...
There was no doubt in David’s heart concerning the greatness of the God he served. Even in his darkest hour, standing against his most imposing foe, David knew God was with him, and if God was with him, then any foe, no matter how imposing was as good as felled already.
David knew whom he was communing with. David possessed the requisite reverence any man understanding who it is they are speaking to must possess.
Rather than be in awe of His greatness, we continually attempt to bring God down to our level, remaking Him in an image more to our liking, than allowing ourselves to be remolded into an image more akin to Him.
Due to this, we are no longer aware of whom it is we are speaking to when we pray, at least not as far as His majesty and greatness are concerned.
The proof is in the lack of reverence which seems to permeate nearly every congregation or household of faith.
We have redefined God, and we have shrunk His authority, His majesty, and His omnipotence, to the point of utter irreverence for His holy name. Rather than come before Him in a spirit of worship and reverence, many today approach God as know-it-all bratty children who just want to be validated in their choices, their lifestyle, and their predilections.
‘God is whatever you want Him to be, but in general, he’s like your buddy, you know, your pal, someone you can joke around with and stuff.’
Since when is God our buddy and our pal? When was it He stripped Himself of His sovereignty, majesty, righteousness, holiness, omnipotence and divinity and became someone we can joke around with?
We read David’s words, and we realize He revered God. David had reverence for whom God was and acknowledged his own impotence and inferiority in light of whom God was.
When reverence is lacking, so is everything else necessary to ensure a true relationship with God. From humility, to subservience, to obedience, to faith itself, all these things are absent when reverence is absent in the heart of an individual.
Due to lack of reverence, we also have the disastrous tendency to reinterpret and redefine God by our own standards. When we do this, our go to response whenever something we don’t understand or like occurs, is ‘my god wouldn’t do that.’
But would the God of the Bible?
If we read the Book and see God doing a certain thing or taking a certain action yet we do not believe our god would do the selfsame thing, we are not worshipping the God of the Bible, but a god of our own making.
David didn’t try to change God, he submitted to God’s authority and sovereignty, receiving all things from His hand.
Granted, it’s easy to receive from the hand of God when what He is promising you is the continuity of your kingdom and perpetual protection, but there were times when God tested David in ways that might seem harsh or unloving to us, yet David still humbled himself in the sight of the Lord.
Is reverence or respect an option rather than a necessity for the children of God? Can we choose irreverence absent consequence – as some insist – if we so desire?
Revelation 4:9-11, “Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.’”
If in heaven there is reverence and worship of God to the point that the twenty-four elders fall down before Him, and cast their crowns before the throne, and if with our own lips we pray, ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,’ then ought we not to show the same reverence as those in heaven do?
He is Lord! He is God! He is Creator! He is worthy of our reverence, and worship.
Though David was king and people feared him, since with the wave of a hand he could have the life of any man in his kingdom, he humbled himself in the sight of the Lord, recognizing His authority, and His lordship over his life.
To some this topic may seem like a small issue, or a non-issue, but I assure you lack of reverence leads to lack of obedience, which leads to lack of accountability, which is the first step in the downward spiral of rebellion.
Fools will beat their chest and say ‘I am,’ but wise men bow their knee and say, ‘You are!’
‘Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?’ These were the first words of David’s prayer, and no, he had not been stricken with sudden Alzheimer’s. David knew who he was as a person, he knew who he was as far as his position was concerned, but he still could not fathom what God saw in him that he had been elevated to such a state.
David humbled himself in the sight of the Lord, and revered God’s ability to take a lump of clay and mold greatness out of it.
If you have accomplished anything in this life, if you are someone of renown, keep in mind it was God who brought you this far. It was the hand of God which led you and molded you and carried you to this place. Give God the thanks and glory rightly His, as David did so long ago.
A lesser man would have attempted to appropriate the glory for himself. It was after all David who pitched the stone at Goliath’s head, it was David who led his army to victory, but David knew that though his hand pitched the stone, God guided it. Though David led his armies, God gave the victory.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Lord, Teach Us To Pray! Part 192
Prayers of the Old Testament
The Prayer of David continued...
Having seen the abundance of blessing God had bestowed upon him, David decides to build a house for the ark of God. He shares his heart with the prophet Nathan, and before Nathan could ask God if this was His will, he speaks to David and says, ‘go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.’
I know not why Nathan did not inquire of the Lord whether David ought to build a house for the ark or not, but alas, that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan and commanded him to go and tell God’s servant David that he would not be the one building him a house, but his seed would.
Even the best of intentions can have the wrong outcome if they are not the will of God. Perhaps it was because it seemed like such a good idea, that Nathan did not inquire of the Lord as to whether or not David ought to build a house for the ark. It was a noble gesture, a good thing, what could be wrong in something so selfless?
One of the most difficult lessons for us to learn as human beings is that the purpose of our existence on this earth is not to be magnanimous, charitable, giving, or generous for the sake of it, but because we are acting out our obedience toward God. The purpose of our existence is obedience and walking in the will of God. And yes, oftentimes God calls us to be benevolent and altruistic.
God rewards obedience. This truth has been proven out in scripture time and again. If I want to do something noble and kind yet God tells me not to do it at that particular time, if I follow through and do what I proposed to do, even though it was a noble thing, I would still be in rebellion and disobedience toward God.
Sometimes obedience is the easiest thing in the world, at other times the most difficult. When, what God commands us goes against the grain of our preconceived notions and ideas, the humbling of oneself is required in order to lay aside our wants, our wills, and simply obey.
David knew there was no point in arguing with God, and the promise God made David, concerning the house his seed would build for the Lord caused him to bend his knee and pray one of the most beautiful prayers of the Old Testament.
2 Samuel 7:18-22, “Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said, ‘Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord God; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord God? Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord God, know Your servant. For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.’”
Although David’s prayer continues for another seven verses, I would be remiss if I did not point out some evident truths from his prayer thus far.
The first thing to stand out is David’s genuine humility. Although he had been anointed king, David stands before God and asks, ‘Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that you have brought me this far?’
If we begin to juxtapose David’s prayer with the prayers of any given televangelist nowadays, we begin to see the stark difference between the two. Though David was king, he still inquired of the Lord ‘who am I, O Lord?’ while men with an iota of tenuous power and influence scream of their entitlement to the heavens, reminding God that they too are little gods and ought to be appeased.
There is a great difference between ‘Lord I am unworthy of your many blessings,’ and ‘is this all you’re going to give me Lord? I deserve more! In fact, I’m entitled to more!’
In recent years we have consistently moved away from godliness with contentment, and toward the mentality that God somehow owes us, and if we demand it loudly enough, often enough, and sternly enough, He will do as we demand.
David understood what many today choose not to: that God’s blessings are undeserved and when He chooses to bless us, all we can do is thank Him for His goodness and faithfulness.
The second thing to stand out in David’s prayer is his unshakable faith in the promises of God. God had spoken some great things to David through the prophet Nathan, including that his house and kingdom would be established forever before him.
At the time of this prophecy, David still had enemies who were all around, there was still division among his own people, yet when God spoke, David believed God at His word and began to thank Him for all the great things He had done.
In David’s heart, the matter was already settled, and God had already done these great things.
The third thing to stand out in David’s prayer is his awareness of God’s greatness. ‘There is none like You, nor is there any God beside You,’ David says.
It’s not just the words David spoke, but what they imply that’s of true import. David acknowledged the supremacy of God, the uniqueness of God, and the omnipotence of God. David knew the God he served, knew the extent of His power, the wonder of His majesty, and because he knew God, he stood on the promises of God accepting them as having already been made manifest.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
The Prayer of David continued...
Having seen the abundance of blessing God had bestowed upon him, David decides to build a house for the ark of God. He shares his heart with the prophet Nathan, and before Nathan could ask God if this was His will, he speaks to David and says, ‘go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.’
I know not why Nathan did not inquire of the Lord whether David ought to build a house for the ark or not, but alas, that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan and commanded him to go and tell God’s servant David that he would not be the one building him a house, but his seed would.
Even the best of intentions can have the wrong outcome if they are not the will of God. Perhaps it was because it seemed like such a good idea, that Nathan did not inquire of the Lord as to whether or not David ought to build a house for the ark. It was a noble gesture, a good thing, what could be wrong in something so selfless?
One of the most difficult lessons for us to learn as human beings is that the purpose of our existence on this earth is not to be magnanimous, charitable, giving, or generous for the sake of it, but because we are acting out our obedience toward God. The purpose of our existence is obedience and walking in the will of God. And yes, oftentimes God calls us to be benevolent and altruistic.
God rewards obedience. This truth has been proven out in scripture time and again. If I want to do something noble and kind yet God tells me not to do it at that particular time, if I follow through and do what I proposed to do, even though it was a noble thing, I would still be in rebellion and disobedience toward God.
Sometimes obedience is the easiest thing in the world, at other times the most difficult. When, what God commands us goes against the grain of our preconceived notions and ideas, the humbling of oneself is required in order to lay aside our wants, our wills, and simply obey.
David knew there was no point in arguing with God, and the promise God made David, concerning the house his seed would build for the Lord caused him to bend his knee and pray one of the most beautiful prayers of the Old Testament.
2 Samuel 7:18-22, “Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said, ‘Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord God; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord God? Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord God, know Your servant. For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.’”
Although David’s prayer continues for another seven verses, I would be remiss if I did not point out some evident truths from his prayer thus far.
The first thing to stand out is David’s genuine humility. Although he had been anointed king, David stands before God and asks, ‘Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that you have brought me this far?’
If we begin to juxtapose David’s prayer with the prayers of any given televangelist nowadays, we begin to see the stark difference between the two. Though David was king, he still inquired of the Lord ‘who am I, O Lord?’ while men with an iota of tenuous power and influence scream of their entitlement to the heavens, reminding God that they too are little gods and ought to be appeased.
There is a great difference between ‘Lord I am unworthy of your many blessings,’ and ‘is this all you’re going to give me Lord? I deserve more! In fact, I’m entitled to more!’
In recent years we have consistently moved away from godliness with contentment, and toward the mentality that God somehow owes us, and if we demand it loudly enough, often enough, and sternly enough, He will do as we demand.
David understood what many today choose not to: that God’s blessings are undeserved and when He chooses to bless us, all we can do is thank Him for His goodness and faithfulness.
The second thing to stand out in David’s prayer is his unshakable faith in the promises of God. God had spoken some great things to David through the prophet Nathan, including that his house and kingdom would be established forever before him.
At the time of this prophecy, David still had enemies who were all around, there was still division among his own people, yet when God spoke, David believed God at His word and began to thank Him for all the great things He had done.
In David’s heart, the matter was already settled, and God had already done these great things.
The third thing to stand out in David’s prayer is his awareness of God’s greatness. ‘There is none like You, nor is there any God beside You,’ David says.
It’s not just the words David spoke, but what they imply that’s of true import. David acknowledged the supremacy of God, the uniqueness of God, and the omnipotence of God. David knew the God he served, knew the extent of His power, the wonder of His majesty, and because he knew God, he stood on the promises of God accepting them as having already been made manifest.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Monday, October 29, 2012
A Humble Request
Rather than post anything else this morning, I want to post a prayer request on behalf of all those in the path of the storm barreling down on the East Coast. Please say a prayer for all those who will be affected by this storm. If it were you, you would want to know someone was keeping you in their prayers.
By all accounts it's going to be epic, and thousands upon thousands of people will be affected.
Tomorrow we continue with our series on prayer. God bless and keep everyone of you.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
By all accounts it's going to be epic, and thousands upon thousands of people will be affected.
Tomorrow we continue with our series on prayer. God bless and keep everyone of you.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Alienating Friends and Making New Enemies!
It seems the whole world is on edge, and when I say the whole world, I am not excluding Christians by any means. Even among the brethren there is this sense of unease, and if we happen to disagree on something, no matter how small or tangential that something might be, well, then we’ve been turned, infiltrated, and now work on behalf of the enemy of all that is good and right.
It’s time to take a step back, recalibrate our position, and make sure that it’s still all about Jesus. Yes, it’s easy to get caught up in the malaise, especially when everyone else is doing it, but what we must keep at the forefront of our thoughts is that Jesus is on the throne, and will continue to be on the throne.
As of late I’ve been bombarded with e-mails about the upcoming elections here in America. As is often the case, I am asked to be the impartial third party, and decide the winner of a certain argument, whether the argument centers around one’s vote being mandatory, and the absence thereof akin to treason, or which candidate to vote for and why.
Over the past few years – if any of you have been reading this blog for that long – I have made my feelings on politics and politicians abundantly clear.
Politics is the world’s second oldest profession, closely tethered to the world’s first profession, and the practitioners of both prostitution and politics sell themselves to the highest bidder.
If men calling themselves bishops, pastors, elders, deacons, prophets and apostles no longer aspire to righteousness, holiness, or any semblance of morality, what makes us think even for one second that a politician will?
The notion that righteousness will flow forth from the oval office, if a certain candidate wins the presidency is childish and foolish on its face.
We are as Israel was, no longer satisfied with the leadership and guidance of God, and for many a year now, have taken it upon ourselves to rule and govern ourselves. We got what we wanted, we got what we deserved, and this time around will be no different than the last. We will, once more, get the kind of leadership we deserve…no better, no worse.
What we must not lose sight of is that this rock will keep spinning regardless of who wins the elections in the coming days, and if this rock is still spinning, we the children of God still have a duty and obligation to Him, to preach Christ and Him crucified.
So I will not tell you who to vote for – although if you want to go the lesser of two evils route the choice is obvious – I will not tell you that hell waits with mouth agape if you don’t vote, nor will I tell you that you get a participation ribbon from Jesus if you do.
These things belong in the realm of personal conviction, like not eating meat, wearing a timepiece, or a wedding band, and I will not judge another’s servant.
I am accountable to God for myself. I do what I can to instruct the children of God, to point the way to Jesus, and to implore any who would hear to surrender their all to Him.
If history has taught us anything, it is that politicians disappoint, and try as we might, we will never have a political solution to a spiritual problem.
Make no mistake, America’s problem is a spiritual one, and the only remedy for what ails this nation is repentance; a repentance that must begin within the house of God, and reverberate throughout the land.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
It’s time to take a step back, recalibrate our position, and make sure that it’s still all about Jesus. Yes, it’s easy to get caught up in the malaise, especially when everyone else is doing it, but what we must keep at the forefront of our thoughts is that Jesus is on the throne, and will continue to be on the throne.
As of late I’ve been bombarded with e-mails about the upcoming elections here in America. As is often the case, I am asked to be the impartial third party, and decide the winner of a certain argument, whether the argument centers around one’s vote being mandatory, and the absence thereof akin to treason, or which candidate to vote for and why.
Over the past few years – if any of you have been reading this blog for that long – I have made my feelings on politics and politicians abundantly clear.
Politics is the world’s second oldest profession, closely tethered to the world’s first profession, and the practitioners of both prostitution and politics sell themselves to the highest bidder.
If men calling themselves bishops, pastors, elders, deacons, prophets and apostles no longer aspire to righteousness, holiness, or any semblance of morality, what makes us think even for one second that a politician will?
The notion that righteousness will flow forth from the oval office, if a certain candidate wins the presidency is childish and foolish on its face.
We are as Israel was, no longer satisfied with the leadership and guidance of God, and for many a year now, have taken it upon ourselves to rule and govern ourselves. We got what we wanted, we got what we deserved, and this time around will be no different than the last. We will, once more, get the kind of leadership we deserve…no better, no worse.
What we must not lose sight of is that this rock will keep spinning regardless of who wins the elections in the coming days, and if this rock is still spinning, we the children of God still have a duty and obligation to Him, to preach Christ and Him crucified.
So I will not tell you who to vote for – although if you want to go the lesser of two evils route the choice is obvious – I will not tell you that hell waits with mouth agape if you don’t vote, nor will I tell you that you get a participation ribbon from Jesus if you do.
These things belong in the realm of personal conviction, like not eating meat, wearing a timepiece, or a wedding band, and I will not judge another’s servant.
I am accountable to God for myself. I do what I can to instruct the children of God, to point the way to Jesus, and to implore any who would hear to surrender their all to Him.
If history has taught us anything, it is that politicians disappoint, and try as we might, we will never have a political solution to a spiritual problem.
Make no mistake, America’s problem is a spiritual one, and the only remedy for what ails this nation is repentance; a repentance that must begin within the house of God, and reverberate throughout the land.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Speaking In Texas
Although I usually post where I'll be speaking on Friday, I decided to post this weekend's engagements one day early for three reasons:
1. I'm speaking in Texas, which I haven't done in a very long time and I want to give anyone who wants to come out enough of head start wherein they can make plans to come to the meeting.
2. I am speaking Saturday evening and Sunday morning, and since it's not just Sunday, posting it a day early just seems wise.
3. If you come to the Saturday evening meeting, you will be part of a studio audience, as the talk is being taped, and altough they have a door charge of $10, tell them you know Mike, and hopefully they'll let you through.
With that, I will be speaking in::
Plano Texas, Saturday October 27 at 7:00 PM and Sunday October 28 at 10:30 AM
2540 K Ave Ste 100
Plano TX 75074
(about 25 steps behind the Whataburger)
These will be protracted meetings, somewhere in the neighborhood of two hours, far longer than I usually speak, and the title of the messages is The Suffering or the Glory!
I will likely also be speaking on prophecies, dreams, visions, but mostly just preaching what God puts on my heart.
Since everyone's contracted election fever, I'll leave this up until Sunday, then I'll either post an article, or continue with our series on prayer. Please keep me in your prayers, and ask that the Lord have His perfect will in these meetings. If you are able and in the area, come on down.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
1. I'm speaking in Texas, which I haven't done in a very long time and I want to give anyone who wants to come out enough of head start wherein they can make plans to come to the meeting.
2. I am speaking Saturday evening and Sunday morning, and since it's not just Sunday, posting it a day early just seems wise.
3. If you come to the Saturday evening meeting, you will be part of a studio audience, as the talk is being taped, and altough they have a door charge of $10, tell them you know Mike, and hopefully they'll let you through.
With that, I will be speaking in::
Plano Texas, Saturday October 27 at 7:00 PM and Sunday October 28 at 10:30 AM
2540 K Ave Ste 100
Plano TX 75074
(about 25 steps behind the Whataburger)
These will be protracted meetings, somewhere in the neighborhood of two hours, far longer than I usually speak, and the title of the messages is The Suffering or the Glory!
I will likely also be speaking on prophecies, dreams, visions, but mostly just preaching what God puts on my heart.
Since everyone's contracted election fever, I'll leave this up until Sunday, then I'll either post an article, or continue with our series on prayer. Please keep me in your prayers, and ask that the Lord have His perfect will in these meetings. If you are able and in the area, come on down.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Lord, Teach Us To Pray! Part 191
Prayers of the Old Testament
The Prayer of David continued...
When we know and trust God, we can’t help but inquire of Him. Each time Israel did not inquire of the Lord regarding something it always ended up being to their detriment. Even when they thought they were getting the good end of the deal, when it was all added up and the final tally was done, they were still at a loss.
God has a better vantage point than we do. He sees beyond what we can see, and if something seems good to us, but seems bad to God, trust that God can see farther down the line than you, and can better ascertain whether the experience will end up being a positive or negative one.
Isaiah 30:1, “Woe to the rebellious children,’ says the Lord, ‘who take counsel but not of Me, and who devise plans but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin.’”
God’s desire is that we take counsel of Him, and make plans by His Spirit. Only when we are dependent on His guidance, can we be certain of our destination, and know the path upon which we are walking is according to His will.
David inquired of the Lord whenever he needed to make a decision, and if he had inquired of the Lord in other areas of his life, perhaps there would be no blemish to speak of on his journey.
It matters not how wise your human counselors might be, it matters not how good the advice you received from friends or family is, God always knows best. Even if God’s counsel stands in stark opposition to the counsel of those you trust do as God instructs, and you will see the benefit and wisdom of doing what God commands sooner rather than later.
From David we learn time and again that prayer is dialogue with God. Because of what prayer is, it ought not to be cumbersome to us, nor ought we to view prayer as a chore. Prayer is a privilege, an honor, and a grace which we the children of God are given, and understanding the beauty of what prayer was, David was consistent in being in God’s presence and inquiring of Him.
There are times when not inquiring of God leads to lifelong consequences. Whether to sell one’s home in lieu of a nicer one, to quit one’s job for the promise of a better one, to marry or not to marry, when we make such decisions without inquiring of God, if we make the wrong choice, the consequences of our singular action can stretch on for decades.
It is the epitome of foolishness to trust in our own wisdom, when the source of all wisdom stands ready to counsel us, and answer our queries.
It would be something wholly different if we had no one to run to, if we had no one to inquire of, if we were left on this rock all by ourselves with no hope, no future, and no direction, but God is listening, and His heart desires fellowship with His creation.
Failing to inquire of the Lord can be likened to attempting to write a sonnet, having Shakespeare standing next to you, and not bothering to ask his advice.
God knows best, He always has, He always will, and if we want the best for our lives, then we must humble ourselves, admit we don’t know it all, and inquire of Him as to what course to take and what path to follow.
Perhaps it was the volume of time David spent in the presence of the Lord, and how often he inquired of the Lord that elevated his prayers to something akin to poetry.
Not only did David inquire of the Lord often and with regularity, the words he used in his prayers, and the way in which he praised and magnified God, are wondrously beautiful.
David was a man of action, but he was also a man of words. Having written over half of the psalms included in the Book of Psalms, his tender heart toward God is revealed time and again.
When he sinned, he was quick to humble himself into the dust, and repent before God, but when God showed him favor, David was also quick to bow before the Lord and bring prayers of thanks before Him.
In this, we have another practical lesson we must learn from the life of David. From David’s life we learn to spend time in the presence of God not only when we need to repent of something, petition God for something, or intercede on behalf of someone, but also when He has been good to us, when He has blessed us, and when He has shown us favor.
Seeing as every breath is a gift, and every sunrise and sunset a reason to thank the Lord, seeing as every meal, every article of clothing and the fact we have a roof over our heads is all due to Him, we ought not to allow a single day to go by without thanking Him for His many blessings.
David had learned the art of being thankful to God for all things. Even after being anointed king, David did not forget his small and meager beginnings. He did not forget he had been a sheepherder, and every grace God showed him, every favor bestowed upon him, was a reason to be thankful to God and in awe of Him.
As wise children, we must be in awe of God’s grace and favor toward us every day of our lives. We can take nothing for granted, or assume we’re entitled to anything. Everything from our health, to our spouses, to our children, to our homes, to our jobs are a gift from the hand of God, and we must treat them as such.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
The Prayer of David continued...
When we know and trust God, we can’t help but inquire of Him. Each time Israel did not inquire of the Lord regarding something it always ended up being to their detriment. Even when they thought they were getting the good end of the deal, when it was all added up and the final tally was done, they were still at a loss.
God has a better vantage point than we do. He sees beyond what we can see, and if something seems good to us, but seems bad to God, trust that God can see farther down the line than you, and can better ascertain whether the experience will end up being a positive or negative one.
Isaiah 30:1, “Woe to the rebellious children,’ says the Lord, ‘who take counsel but not of Me, and who devise plans but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin.’”
God’s desire is that we take counsel of Him, and make plans by His Spirit. Only when we are dependent on His guidance, can we be certain of our destination, and know the path upon which we are walking is according to His will.
David inquired of the Lord whenever he needed to make a decision, and if he had inquired of the Lord in other areas of his life, perhaps there would be no blemish to speak of on his journey.
It matters not how wise your human counselors might be, it matters not how good the advice you received from friends or family is, God always knows best. Even if God’s counsel stands in stark opposition to the counsel of those you trust do as God instructs, and you will see the benefit and wisdom of doing what God commands sooner rather than later.
From David we learn time and again that prayer is dialogue with God. Because of what prayer is, it ought not to be cumbersome to us, nor ought we to view prayer as a chore. Prayer is a privilege, an honor, and a grace which we the children of God are given, and understanding the beauty of what prayer was, David was consistent in being in God’s presence and inquiring of Him.
There are times when not inquiring of God leads to lifelong consequences. Whether to sell one’s home in lieu of a nicer one, to quit one’s job for the promise of a better one, to marry or not to marry, when we make such decisions without inquiring of God, if we make the wrong choice, the consequences of our singular action can stretch on for decades.
It is the epitome of foolishness to trust in our own wisdom, when the source of all wisdom stands ready to counsel us, and answer our queries.
It would be something wholly different if we had no one to run to, if we had no one to inquire of, if we were left on this rock all by ourselves with no hope, no future, and no direction, but God is listening, and His heart desires fellowship with His creation.
Failing to inquire of the Lord can be likened to attempting to write a sonnet, having Shakespeare standing next to you, and not bothering to ask his advice.
God knows best, He always has, He always will, and if we want the best for our lives, then we must humble ourselves, admit we don’t know it all, and inquire of Him as to what course to take and what path to follow.
Perhaps it was the volume of time David spent in the presence of the Lord, and how often he inquired of the Lord that elevated his prayers to something akin to poetry.
Not only did David inquire of the Lord often and with regularity, the words he used in his prayers, and the way in which he praised and magnified God, are wondrously beautiful.
David was a man of action, but he was also a man of words. Having written over half of the psalms included in the Book of Psalms, his tender heart toward God is revealed time and again.
When he sinned, he was quick to humble himself into the dust, and repent before God, but when God showed him favor, David was also quick to bow before the Lord and bring prayers of thanks before Him.
In this, we have another practical lesson we must learn from the life of David. From David’s life we learn to spend time in the presence of God not only when we need to repent of something, petition God for something, or intercede on behalf of someone, but also when He has been good to us, when He has blessed us, and when He has shown us favor.
Seeing as every breath is a gift, and every sunrise and sunset a reason to thank the Lord, seeing as every meal, every article of clothing and the fact we have a roof over our heads is all due to Him, we ought not to allow a single day to go by without thanking Him for His many blessings.
David had learned the art of being thankful to God for all things. Even after being anointed king, David did not forget his small and meager beginnings. He did not forget he had been a sheepherder, and every grace God showed him, every favor bestowed upon him, was a reason to be thankful to God and in awe of Him.
As wise children, we must be in awe of God’s grace and favor toward us every day of our lives. We can take nothing for granted, or assume we’re entitled to anything. Everything from our health, to our spouses, to our children, to our homes, to our jobs are a gift from the hand of God, and we must treat them as such.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Lord, Teach Us To Pray! Part 190
Prayers of the Old Testament
The Prayer of David continued...
‘David inquired of the Lord’ this was the pattern of his life, and after inquiring of the Lord, and receiving the answer to his query, David acted on the information he’d received without delay.
Although a flawed man, David never once assumed he knew better than God, or thought himself above the correction of God.
When our desire is to walk in the will of God, we inquire of Him. When our desire is to do as God would have us do, we receive His counsel and act upon his directives.
One of the worst things we can do is take God’s counsel under advisement. I’ve heard this term from the lips of men who I assumed knew better than to tempt the Lord their God by inquiring of Him, then discounting and ignoring His words in lieu of their own notions, opinions, or plans.
If your heart is set upon something, and you have no desire to do as God commands but as you see fit, don’t tempt the Lord by inquiring of Him.
Inquire of the Lord only when you are ready to obey, to upturn your entire life, and walk away from everything you have meticulously built thus far. If you are not ready to obey completely, then there’s no point in inquiring of the Lord.
‘Lord, lead me and I will follow, but don’t ask me to quit my job, leave my city, have contact with homeless people, or give more than ten percent after taxes.’
What’s the point? Why even pray the prayer?
If we start out by telling God what we’re not willing to do for Him, then our first priority ought to be getting our hearts right, then asking Him to assign us a task or duty.
I do what I do because God commanded it of me. If He tells me to keep going, I keep going. If He tells me to stop, I stop. And if He tells me to walk away from it all, I won’t even take the time to pack a bag.
True obedience obeys even when what is asked of us is in our detriment, when it hurts the flesh, when it wounds our pride, and when, in the eyes of the world it sets us back rather than moves us forward.
Before bending our knee or uttering the first words of a prayer, we must be prepared to receive an answer our flesh will not like or bristle against. Not every answer we receive from the Lord will be positive, or joyous. Sometimes God asks us to do the hard thing, the difficult thing, the thing we most don’t want to do, and as obedient children we must lay aside our preferences, and do as commanded.
If every believer made at a habit to inquire of the Lord with consistency, there would be many a giant of the faith walking about today, full of the presence, power and authority of God. When we inquire of the Lord we are submitting to His authority over us, and humbling ourselves to the point of following His guidance for our lives.
Instead of inquiring of the Lord, nowadays most believers think themselves little gods, and being little gods – at least in their own minds – they are able to justify the path they choose to follow, no matter how far removed from the truth of Scripture it might be.
There are times when God will not answer though we inquire of Him. Like David, Saul was disciplined in regards to inquiring of the Lord. Even after he rebelled, disobeyed, and did what God had commanded him not to do, Saul continued to inquire of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer His queries.
Saul spoke, but God was silent. Saul inquired, but God did not answer, because a wall had been erected between God and Saul; a wall of disobedience and rebellion which God could not overlook.
When Saul saw God would not answer, he even went to the prophet of the Lord, asking him to inquire of God on his behalf, but it was too late by far. God had already rejected Saul from being king, and had chosen another to take his place.
Due to their lack of relationship with Him, God will not allow Himself to be inquired of by certain people, even if they attempt to use surrogates to do so.
Ezekiel 20:1-3, “It came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, ‘thus says the Lord God: ‘Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I will not be inquired of by you.’”
The elders of Israel had come to Ezekiel inquiring of the Lord, but the Lord’s only answer was that He would not be inquired of by them. Even though they attempted to use Ezekiel as a conduit, as an intermediary between themselves and God, God saw through it and rebuked them for having the gall to come inquire of Him without first removing the abominations and idols from before their eyes.
If we inquire of the Lord and He does not answer, it is paramount we search our hearts, repent of what our conscience convicts us of, and then inquire of the Lord again.
God has good reason for not answering our query and it is never that He was busy, on vacation, doing something else, or overwhelmed by all the prayers.
Diligent study of the scriptures reveals it is man not being in harmony with God and His will that keeps Him from answering when we inquire of Him. God’s hand is not short, His hearing is not impaired, and He is not shortsighted. If fault lies with anyone, it is with us, and once we patch the rift, and return to walking in His will, He will answer our petitions.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
The Prayer of David continued...
‘David inquired of the Lord’ this was the pattern of his life, and after inquiring of the Lord, and receiving the answer to his query, David acted on the information he’d received without delay.
Although a flawed man, David never once assumed he knew better than God, or thought himself above the correction of God.
When our desire is to walk in the will of God, we inquire of Him. When our desire is to do as God would have us do, we receive His counsel and act upon his directives.
One of the worst things we can do is take God’s counsel under advisement. I’ve heard this term from the lips of men who I assumed knew better than to tempt the Lord their God by inquiring of Him, then discounting and ignoring His words in lieu of their own notions, opinions, or plans.
If your heart is set upon something, and you have no desire to do as God commands but as you see fit, don’t tempt the Lord by inquiring of Him.
Inquire of the Lord only when you are ready to obey, to upturn your entire life, and walk away from everything you have meticulously built thus far. If you are not ready to obey completely, then there’s no point in inquiring of the Lord.
‘Lord, lead me and I will follow, but don’t ask me to quit my job, leave my city, have contact with homeless people, or give more than ten percent after taxes.’
What’s the point? Why even pray the prayer?
If we start out by telling God what we’re not willing to do for Him, then our first priority ought to be getting our hearts right, then asking Him to assign us a task or duty.
I do what I do because God commanded it of me. If He tells me to keep going, I keep going. If He tells me to stop, I stop. And if He tells me to walk away from it all, I won’t even take the time to pack a bag.
True obedience obeys even when what is asked of us is in our detriment, when it hurts the flesh, when it wounds our pride, and when, in the eyes of the world it sets us back rather than moves us forward.
Before bending our knee or uttering the first words of a prayer, we must be prepared to receive an answer our flesh will not like or bristle against. Not every answer we receive from the Lord will be positive, or joyous. Sometimes God asks us to do the hard thing, the difficult thing, the thing we most don’t want to do, and as obedient children we must lay aside our preferences, and do as commanded.
If every believer made at a habit to inquire of the Lord with consistency, there would be many a giant of the faith walking about today, full of the presence, power and authority of God. When we inquire of the Lord we are submitting to His authority over us, and humbling ourselves to the point of following His guidance for our lives.
Instead of inquiring of the Lord, nowadays most believers think themselves little gods, and being little gods – at least in their own minds – they are able to justify the path they choose to follow, no matter how far removed from the truth of Scripture it might be.
There are times when God will not answer though we inquire of Him. Like David, Saul was disciplined in regards to inquiring of the Lord. Even after he rebelled, disobeyed, and did what God had commanded him not to do, Saul continued to inquire of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer His queries.
Saul spoke, but God was silent. Saul inquired, but God did not answer, because a wall had been erected between God and Saul; a wall of disobedience and rebellion which God could not overlook.
When Saul saw God would not answer, he even went to the prophet of the Lord, asking him to inquire of God on his behalf, but it was too late by far. God had already rejected Saul from being king, and had chosen another to take his place.
Due to their lack of relationship with Him, God will not allow Himself to be inquired of by certain people, even if they attempt to use surrogates to do so.
Ezekiel 20:1-3, “It came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, ‘thus says the Lord God: ‘Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I will not be inquired of by you.’”
The elders of Israel had come to Ezekiel inquiring of the Lord, but the Lord’s only answer was that He would not be inquired of by them. Even though they attempted to use Ezekiel as a conduit, as an intermediary between themselves and God, God saw through it and rebuked them for having the gall to come inquire of Him without first removing the abominations and idols from before their eyes.
If we inquire of the Lord and He does not answer, it is paramount we search our hearts, repent of what our conscience convicts us of, and then inquire of the Lord again.
God has good reason for not answering our query and it is never that He was busy, on vacation, doing something else, or overwhelmed by all the prayers.
Diligent study of the scriptures reveals it is man not being in harmony with God and His will that keeps Him from answering when we inquire of Him. God’s hand is not short, His hearing is not impaired, and He is not shortsighted. If fault lies with anyone, it is with us, and once we patch the rift, and return to walking in His will, He will answer our petitions.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
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