PSALM 109:4 – “In return for my love they act as my accusers, but I give myself to prayer”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE IMPULSE TO PRAY. In today’s scripture, David feels pressure. A lot of it. His enemies abound with wounding words, lying lips, and fierce accusations. Sounds like us on a daily basis. We may have physical accusers like David, but for sure we have the worst of accusers attacking us. His name is Satan and the Apostle John describes his malicious work in the Revelation – “And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God” (Revelation 12:10).
The tactic David used against his accusers is also the one we are to use – prayer. In the spiritual battles God calls us to fight, prayer is essential. It is what must be used to put on the whole armor of God. In the warfare chapter, Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul would give us a detailed listing of the armor of God – “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:10-17).
What follows this section of the armor is verse eighteen – “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). Some commentators and scholars attempt to add this to the armor. It is not. It is what puts the armor on. Every piece must be bathed with prayer, and it is prayer that is the lifeblood of the Christian. All spiritual life withers without prayer. All the knowledge we may acquire of the Bible is nothing without prayer.
D.M. Lloyd-Jones once said, “The thing that keeps one going in the Christian life is prayer – communion and fellowship with God; it is something which is absolutely essential. I would go further and say that the Christian life is really impossible without it.” And when it comes to prayer, make it both a discipline to practice and a prompting to obey. Never quiet the prompting to pray. It is God drawing us to Himself, and that is the key to ongoing fellowship – intentional and spontaneous prayer. It keeps communion with Him alive and the armor of God effectual.
PRAYER: Lord, let me see prayer as not just getting things from You but getting close to You.
REFLECTION: When we are prompted to pray, don’t ignore it. God is drawing us to seek Him.