Seek the Lord, Be Heard, Be Delivered #1474

I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4, NKJV)

Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). David was sure that because he sought the Lord that God heard him and delivered him from his fears. His statement suggests several things worthy of every Christian’s attention and acceptance. First, you can find God when you seek Him. Just as God is “not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27), He is a nearby helper of His children, who put their trust in Him (Hebrews 13:5-6; Matthew 6:9). Next, God listens when His children speak to Him. He knows our needs before we ask, but He expects us to come to Him with faith, confident that He hears and responds (Matthew 6:8; 7:8-11). Third, God is able to deliver you safely through every trial. “If God is for us, who can be against us” is our rally cry of victory in Christ (Romans 8:31). We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37). Let us seek the Lord with full confidence that He hears us and delivers us. We put our faith and hope in Him, and He delivers us from every fear.

“He has attended to the voice of my prayer” #1268

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul. 17 I cried to Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue. 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. 19 But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me! (Psalm 66:16–20, NKJV)

The psalmist was eager to tell God-fearers what God did for his soul. God heard his prayers and blessed him with mercy. Like him, we also need divine mercy. He has assured us mercy in our time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16). God will hear and answer the prayers of His people, who 1) Fear Him (verse 16), 2) Praise Him (verse 17), and 3) Refuse to give their attention to sin (verse 18). God did not only hear this man’s prayer, He attended to his prayer. The prayers of God’s people bring Him to action! God’s mercy is turned toward those who fear Him, trust Him, and praise Him. His mercy is given to those who refuse to approve of sin. “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29). May we ever tell what great things God has done for our souls through His Son, Jesus Christ!

I Heard of Your Faith and Love #716

15  Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16  do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: (Ephesians 1:15–16, NKJV)

How do you hear about someone’s faith in the Lord and love for fellow Christians? Surely we can see that faith in the Lord is more than mental agreement, and love for the brethren is more than holding an emotion in the heart. Faith cannot be seen unless it is active: “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (Jas. 2:18). Our verse implies the Ephesians were living in such a way that others knew their faith and love. Paul had been told about their faith and love. Their vibrant, obedient faith in Jesus was on display through their acts of love for all the saints. Hearing of their faith and love led Paul to gave unceasing thanks for them in his prayers. Be sure to express your faith in Christ and your brotherly love through obedient service. May others hear of your faith in the Lord and of your love for the saints, and may thanksgiving for you ascend to God’s throne.

“My God, My God!” #435

45  Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” (Matthew 27:45-46)

Betrayed, denied and rejected; On the cross all seemed to be lost. Now, in darkness and throes of death, Jesus endures the final hours of agony without immediate relief from the Father He loved and who loved Him. Only Jesus could be the sacrifice for our sins. He came to this moment for that very purpose. What magnificent resolve He had! “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name” (Jno. 12:27-28). Although there was no immediate relief, yet “when He cried to Him, He heard” (Psa. 22:1, 24). Dear Christian, when you must face life’s trials and sorrows, take heart. The Father is not far away. There is divine purpose to suffering and by faith we endure (1 Pet. 1:6-9). Pass through your moment of pain knowing that when you cry to the Lord, He hears you, too (1 Jno. 5:14-15).