“May The Lord”

by Pastor Mark
February 05, 2019

A Lunar New Year wish

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Blessed and Joyous Lunar New Year. We thank God for blessing us for yet another year. He has been so gracious and merciful in so many ways to us. Let us be challenged to give praise and thanksgiving for all the blessings that God has showered upon us.

A prayer for the Lunar New Year

As we look ahead to the Lunar New Year, a prayer of David comes to mind. (Ps 20)

1. “May the Lord”

The key phrase “May the Lord” is used 7 times in Psalm 20. What does this phrase mean? It is a desire and wish. It is a hope and a humble prayer. We are not meant to demand and claim things from the Lord in prayer. God is not under any obligation to answer our prayers. This phrase would indicate that it is up to the Lord’s prerogative to answer our prayer. He may or may not answer our pleas. The Lord will answer according to His will. It is out of His grace and mercy that God will answer. This is the correct way of praying.

2. The things that we want to wish for

What were some things that David prayed for? I would like to use his words of prayer to specially pray for all of us also as we enter into the Lunar New Year.

  1. May the Lord answer us in the day of trouble Ps 20:1
  2. May the name of the God of Jacob defend us Ps 20:1
  3. May the Lord send help from His sanctuary Ps 20:2
  4. May the Lord strengthen us out of Zion Ps 20:2
  5. May the Lord remember and accept all our offerings Ps 20:3
  6. May the Lord grant us according to our heart’s desire Ps 20:4
  7. May the Lord fulfil all our purposes Ps 20:4
  8. May the Lord fulfil all our petitions Ps 20:5
  9. May the Lord as King answer us when we call Ps 20:9

Our part to fulfil

While David sought the Lord in prayer, he also did his part.

  1. He rejoiced in the Lord’s salvation (Ps 20:5)
  2. He set up banners in the name of the Lord…to thank God (Ps 20:5)
  3. He remembered the name of the Lord rather than to trust in chariots and horses (Ps 20:7)

All of us should learn to practise these things in our lives, too, as we pray.

The challenge to pray humbly

Our prayers to the Lord should always reflect our understanding of God, ourselves and prayer. Let us be challenged to have a deeper understanding of God and His will as we plead before the Lord. We should also understand who we are before God and that we should humbly pray to Him. Let us with trust in the Lord pray that He would answer according to His will. Let us look ahead to the Lord blessing us in the Lunar New Year.

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