CONSIDER AND HEAR ME, O LORD MY GOD
Text: Psalm 13
6 May 2012
(I) FACING STRUGGLES IN PRAYER
1. Struggling with God hiding His face
“How long would you hide your face from me?” Psalm 13:1
2. Struggling with the waiting aspect
“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long…How long…” Psalm 13:1-2
3. Struggling with our emotions
a) Feelings of sorrow
“Having sorrow in my heart daily?…” Psalm 13:2
b) Fear of death
“Lest I sleep the sleep of death…” Psalm 13:4
(II) REASONS WHY PRAYERS ARE NOT ANSWERED
1. When we pray wrongly
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:3
2. When there is a sin problem
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God and your sin have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2
(III) MAKING APPROPRIATE PRAYERS TO OUR KING
1. Manner of prayer
“Consider and hear me, O Lord, my God.” Psalm 13:3
a) Petitioning
b) Pleading
2. Considerations to bear in mind in prayer
a) Thought through prayers
“How long shall I take counsel in my own soul…” Psalm 13:2
“Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditations.” Psalm 5:1
b) God’s mercy as the basis
“In your mercy…” Psalm 13:5
“Have mercy of me, O Lord! Consider my trouble from those who hate me…that I may tell of all Your praise.” Psalm 9:13
3. Interactive approach in prayer – Seeking enlightenment
“Enlighten my eyes…” Psalm 13:3
(IV) RESULTS OF GOD ENLIGHTENING US IN ANSWER TO PRAYER
1. Sense of assurance
“Because He has dealt bountifully with me” Psalm 13:6
2. Deepening trust
“But I have trusted in Your mercy…” Psalm 13:5
3. Rejoicing in the Lord
“My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation” Psalm 13:5