Young Adults' Group

Beginning The Day With God In Prayer

by Pastor Mark
July 12, 2018

The practice of praying

Prayer should not be just a concept that we learn and understand. It is something that must be practised as part of our spiritual walk with the Lord.

Prayer should also not be practised only in times of difficulties when we need God’s help. If we take this approach, we would end up ceasing to pray when our problems are resolved. Therefore, the practice of prayer is a discipline that we should undertake as a way of life.

Learning to pray in the morning

King David had a vibrant prayer life which is very much reflected in the many psalms that he wrote. One such psalm is called the Morning Psalm. David would take time to pray in the morning daily. How did he seek to practise praying in the morning?

1. Setting aside time in the morning to pray

“My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.” (Ps 5:3)

David made it a habit to practise praying in the morning. He would raise his voice to the Lord each morning. Why did David pray in the morning? It was because of his relationship with the Lord…that the first thing that David sought to do each day was to be in communion with God. David also had to deal with the challenges of the day such as workers of wickedness. (Ps 5:4,5) He felt the great need to pray concerning these matters each morning. Let us be challenged to set aside time each morning to pray to God.

2. Focus on God

“Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry,

My King and my God, for to You I will pray.” (Psalm 5:1,2)

There were different ways in which David addressed God. He regarded God as Lord. This is usually seen as the covenantal name of God. David also addressed God as “my King”. David had a special affinity with God as King as he too was a king…the king of Israel. Many people would bring their petitions to him. Therefore, he had a personal understanding of the relationship between a king and his subject. David would bring his own petitions before the King of heaven and earth. Let us be challenged to commune with our great King too.

3. Meditation

“consider my meditation” (Ps 5:1)

How is meditation related to prayer? Meditation and our prayers are closely related. David sought to take time to meditate as he prayed. David learnt to be still and to meditate on God and on what He can do. As he meditated, he would translate those thoughts into prayer. Whatever his meditation was, it would become his prayers. As he prayed, the way in which he meditated might even change. His thoughts would be more and more focused on the Lord in the midst of the challenges of life.

David also wrote in another Psalm, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight,” (Ps 19:14) He wrote of how our meditations and our prayers are closely linked. The challenge is to have meditation that is pleasing to the Lord so that our prayers would be pleasing to Him too. Let us be challenged not to rush into each day without being with the Lord. Let us be challenged to begin each day praying to our Lord.

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