You Know Your Servant
Opening Prayer
Lord, as I seek to grow in prayer, teach me to come after Your heart and move in rhythm with You.
Read 1 CHRONICLES 17:16-27
[16] Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? [17] And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, LORD God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men. [18] “What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, [19] LORD. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises. [20] “There is no one like you, LORD, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. [21] And who is like your people Israel-the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people for himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? [22] You made your people Israel your very own forever, and you, LORD, have become their God. [23] “And now, LORD, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, [24] so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The LORD Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you. [25] “You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. [26] You, LORD, are God! You have promised these good things to your servant. [27] Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What do you see reflected in David's prayer?Our prayers are a measure of who we are. We know from other sources that David had many flaws, but his prayer in response to God’s covenant gives some insight into why he was “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14) in a way Saul never was.The prayer begins in humility. David sits down and says, “Who am I…that you have brought me this far?” No rushing in with complaints or requests. Just a quiet recognition of the presence of God who keeps us moving on track. And then, gratitude as David looks beyond the narrow horizon of his own affairs to see the big picture of God’s redemptive purposes for the nation and the whole earth (20,22). Holding our lives in the light of eternity will deliver us from much anxiety and fretfulness. “Are my concerns really that important, Lord, when I catch a glimpse of your majestic game plan?” Finally we witness David’s robust faith as he challenges God to be true to his promises: “O God, please do what you say!” (23). God always does, but he delights to hear our feeble challenge, evidence of our deepening faith. Pray well today!
Apply
“When we pray… the plainest, humblest language that expresses our meaning is the best” (C.H. Spurgeon).
Closing prayer
Abba, I come to You in confidence that Your desire is only for my good, and that You are waiting for me to seek You.
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