Praying like David

 Psalm 5 (ESV): A Psalm of David. 

1  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 favour as with a shield. 

We can tell from this psalm, and others that he has written, that there is a pattern to David’s daily life. He has an established routine that consists of praying and giving sacrifices to God. Even as a ruler of a nation David finds time to talk to and honour God. This is how he begins each day. This time with God allows him to get all of the annoying things off of his chest, rant about the problems, remember who God is, and seek guidance. It helps David refocus and ready himself for the day. Do you do the same - is God included in your preparations for the day? No matter how busy you are, your responsibilities or expectations, do you allow yourself the privilege of spending time with God so that your burdens, concerns and desires can be put in His hands rather than your own? 

As part of this daily exchange David has with God, he shows us that he; speaks (v2), sacrifices and waits (v3), rants (4-6), extols God (v7, 8, 12), asks God to help (v8) and reminds himself of God’s promises (v12). Part of prayer and growing a relationship with God should involve all of these things. It is being real about life and knowing and accepting who really is in charge. 

Did you know that being sacrificial should be involved in your time with God? It could be obeying Him in some way that is really difficult for you or giving things away. Being willing to give God your best may look like giving something up or taking something on that you don't want to. It will hurt and cause discomfort otherwise it is not a sacrifice! A sacrifice looks like surrendering and giving up and it is required in order to truly worship God. If you want to invest in a relationship with God you will find that it is not easy and it demands something from you. Not because you have to pay or persuade God that you'll be a good friend, but in any relationship there is a sense of surrender and sacrifice because it comes from a position of love. Maybe consider it this way; without the sacrificial element to a faith-filled life - what is it that you are putting into the relationship with God? Some talking, requests and offloading? Is that a relationship? Relationships are two-way, so ensure that you are worshipping, sacrificing and waiting when you spend time with God. Let Him reveal His ideas, plans, purposes and commands to you and carefully consider how you are going to follow and honour God each day. Ask God what He wants from you, then trust Him. Even if it is really hard and hurts (sacrifices do) it will do you good, it demonstrates that you are an invested follower of God, and reminds you that your life is not your own.  

David prepares a sacrifice for God and then watches (v3). In his time with God, David through prayer; worships, gives of himself and waits. Does your prayer routine look like that? David doesn’t do all the talking. He does some, he puts himself aside and puts God first through his words and actions (extolling God and making sacrifices) and then he prepares himself for God to respond. David whilst he is waiting for God’s reply reminds himself who God is and who He isn’t (v4-6), and then gains confidence in the fact that God is on his side as a man who follows Him. So, no matter what, David knows that he will be blessed and protected (v12). When you pray, do you remember exactly who it is you are talking to?! Do you spend time remembering what you know to be true of Him. Sometimes our requests are answered in what we already know if we take time to recall the truth. David shows this as when he wrote this psalm he clearly needed assurance of God’s love, protection, mercy and righteousness, and the more he prayed and considered who God is, the more he realised that he already what he needs, he remembered that God blesses, protects and pours out favour on His children and so he realises that he needs to keep going the way God wants him to (v8). Sometimes we need the same, a reminder, a reassurance that God is really who He is. As you pray, remember who God is and what He wills from you as well as what He expects of you. I can guarantee that what He wants from you is far less than what He will give and already has given you. 

As you pray today, try to include the same things David did. God considered David, ‘a man after his own heart’ (1 Samuel 13:14) after all, so he is clearly a good example to follow if you want to be considered the same. Can you learnt o pray like David;

Speak honestly and from the heart

Make sacrifices

Wait

Tell God what is wrong 

Remember who God is

Ask God for His help and guidance

Remind yourself of His promises