Thursday 21st May

Psalm 21 vs 2 
“You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips.”

At first glance this looks like a charter for asking anything you’ve set your heart on, but not so fast! Can that be right? It’s obvious, too obvious, to give the example of wanting that new Merc, or the highly paid job, or the big house as evidence that this way of approaching the verse just won’t work. On the other hand suppose you want something good or that you really need, well, as far as you and maybe others see it, can you pray for it and since it’s your heart’s desire should you expect to receive it?

Prayer is never that simple and don’t we know it! We’ve been there many times asking for things we didn’t get, and usually we brand those requests unanswered prayers when maybe the answer was no. Let’s think about King David, the author of Psalm 21 for a moment, he was of course a man with faults like the rest of us, sometimes worse than the rest of us, but preaching in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:22) Paul talks about God appointing David, “a man after his own heart”.  Whatever false and wrong steps he took, David’s heart was inclined to God and underneath it all he wanted what God wanted.

Before we ask for something in prayer perhaps we should first try to understand our own motives for asking and then pray that God would incline our hearts to his will and give us wisdom in our asking so that we ask according to his will and to his glory. In that way we can ask in confidence and faith. Don’t imagine though that it’s easy to give up our dreams that too is a matter of trust that even though we can’t see the outcome God will act for our ultimate good and his glory.

PRAY
Today as you search your heart take on board Jesus advice to seek first God’s kingdom (Matt 6:33) then make your requests to Him.

LISTEN