As we looked at the aspect of God’s Word in our prayer life, we need to look at different aspects of what scripture reveals. It leads us to answer important questions.
Who is God?
As we live our life, the question is, “Who is God in our lives?” Are we putting God as the important, or have we raised up something else in competition?
Here we see a simple declaration from Isaiah that God is king and redeemer. Then we see a declaration that God is the beginning and the end and that there is no other God. And the declaration that there is no God other than the God of the Bible is very conflicting with culture today. Many religions claim that they know God. But God also says to not fear. So when we acknowledge this in prayer, we can simply accept God at His word, that he is the only God, and we will not fear not, because we are connected to a timeless God who is the Rock of our lives. And when we speak into the truth, then maybe it will move in us to pray for those things in our lives that need to change to align with that truth. Amen.
Is , “the flock under his care” can be also stated as “the flock in His hand”. We can pray the truths of God’s creation, the special place that God has for us, and that we are going to hear His voice even over the loud dissenting and distracting voices around us. Amen.
We cannot help but be amazed at the truth of Jesus. Our prayers will lead us to amazement of God’s plan, Jesus’ offered salvation, the acceptance of Jesus as Lord. And the we want to reconcile our sinful life by accepting the pardon made possible by Jesus on the cross. Amen.
So as we see these passages, it becomes clear the benefit of praying with your Bible open. Allow God’s Word to lead us, fill us, and sustain our prayer life. God’s truth speaks to us. Allow it to guide how we speak back to God.
6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
Isaiah 44:8
8 Fear not, nor be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not any.” (ESV)
95:1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3 For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
7 For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you hear his voice, (ESV)
23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever. (ESV)
100:1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations. (ESV)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (ESV)