Pastor Stef's prayer based on Psalm 4

Lord, why don’t you answer when I call?
If you’re really a good God why don’t you give me a break from my anxiety?
Show some mercy and answer my prayers.
I’m begging you!
 
But you do answer back.
You answer with questions.
Asking me how long it will be until I answer you.
How long will I ignore your son Jesus?
How long will I ignore your beauty and play in the mud?
How long will I run after false illusions when you have given me the real thing?
 
You continually remind me that you have set apart your followers and do answer their prayers.
 
Lord, there are a lot of things to get angry about.
Help me to get angry without sinning.
I don’t always get that right.
Even when I’m rightly angry I can wrongly behave. 
Guilty as charged.
A gentle answer can be so much more effective.
 
When I lay on my bed may I take the time to search my heart and see if there are idols idling away my life.
May I not get distracted by the noise of busyness, but find quietness in you to do a real heart examination.
May the things I do please you.
May I trust in you whether I hear from you or not.
 
Many people are asking, “Where are all the good people?”
Lord, empower your children and light up our faces so that the world can see that your followers are good.
Good because we have found our goodness in you.
May we be convinced that living for you is where we find true joy and pleasure.
Better than any party anyone can offer. 
Keep us from diving back into the mud when you have given us a beach.
 
When I remain in you, you give me peace of mind so that I can lie down and sleep.
This is the answer to my anxiety.
It is only in your safe arms that I will find true fulfilment no matter what the circumstances may be.   

Devotion by Cora Goodyear
Psalm 4
A psalm of David
David, in this psalm, prays for God to hear and answer his prayer, to give him relief from his distress and to be merciful to him. He says to the men against him v3 “Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him” David also says in this psalm not to sin when angry, to offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord and he asks the Lord that the light of his face shine upon his people. He ends the psalm by saying that he will sleep in peace because the Lord makes him dwell in safety.
 
Psalm 4:3 “Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him.”
 
How wonderful it is to know that God has set us apart for himself. We have a special protection. As Matthew 18:6 says “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large milestone hung around his neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.” As David says, God will hear our cry. How comforting it is to know, as God’s children, we have the ear of God, the King of Kings. He listens for our voice because we are special to him.

Point: God will hear us when we call out to him.
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