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“How Long” Prayers

Text: Psalm 13
11 September 2017

“HOW LONG” PRAYERS

A painful series of questions raised in prayer to God.

1. Forgotten by God?

“How long, O LORD?
Will You forget me forever?”   Psalm 13:1a

2. Hiding of God’s face

“How long will You hide Your face from me?”   Psalm 13:1b

3. Counsel from our own soul

“How long shall I take counsel in my own soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?”   Psalm 13:2a

4. Enemies

“How long will my enemy be exalted over me?”   Psalm 13:2b

DANGER OF SUCH PRAYERS

1. Danger of blaming God

2. Danger of whining

3. Danger of demanding

4. Danger of ending up in despair

A CHANGE OF PRAYER-APPROACH

1. A prayer for enlightenment

“Consider and hear me, O LORD my God;
Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
Lest my enemy say,
“I have prevailed against him”
Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.”   Psalm 13:3-4

2. The exercise of trust

“But I have trusted in Your mercy…”   Psalm 13:5a

FINDING JOY AGAIN

1. My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation   (Psalm 13:5b)

2. I will sing to the LORD   (Psalm 13:6a)

THE LORD’S BOUNTIFUL DEALING

“Because He has dealt bountifully with me”   Psalm 13:6b

1. He has always dealt bountifully

2. Sometimes we fail to see and appreciate the Lord’s hand of blessing

THE CHALLENGE

1. To check our prayer-approach

2. To check our prayer-life

3. To check our faith