Pastor Stef's prayer based on Psalm 5

​Listen to me Lord, even when all I have to offer you is my exhaustion.
Listen to me when I cry for help.
You are my king and my God and so you are the only one I can pray to.
 
I try to meet with you in the morning; when I do, please let me know that you are listening.
When I lay my requests before you don’t ignore me and leave me to struggle throughout the day.
I’m powerless on my own and so I wait, and I hope for your intervention.
 
You are not a God who enjoys evil.
In fact, wicked people can’t come close to you without getting burned.
Arrogant people make you gag.
You hate those who willfully do wrong.
You destroy liars and murderers.
These are the kind of people you despise.
 
I don’t want to be like that.
That is why I come to you each morning.
Pleading and begging and falling on my face.
You are a holy God and I want to please you.
I need you to lead me in your ways.
Don’t let me sin or the devil take me down the wrong road.
Keep me on the road that leads straight into the arms of Jesus.
 
I can’t trust people who don’t trust in you.
Their hearts are filled with selfishness.
They care only about their own desires – even though these lead to death.
They lie to themselves and murder others with their words.
Why am I even tempted by that path Lord?
 
I know you are going to declare these people guilty.
I know that their sins are going to ruin them forever.
They will be eternally separated from life and the Giver of Life.
Nothing good can come out of rebelling against you.
 
But those who find their shelter in you find contentment.
They find true happiness and are able to sing songs of joy.
 
Lord, protect me from self, sin, and Satan.
I want to build my house on you.
Then I am protected by a shield that covers me from every angle.
For when I am with you, I am not only protected, but you delight in me and enjoy playing with me as one of your prized children.

Devotion by Cora Goodyear
Psalm 5
A psalm of David
In this psalm, David asks God to answer his prayer. He speaks of the displeasure God has of those who do evil but David appeals to God to lead him in God’s righteousness. He ends the psalm by praying that those who take refuge in God may rejoice because of Gods protection, blessings and favour to them.
 
Psalm 5:3 “Morning by morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; morning by morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”
 
In v1 and 2, David asks God to listen to him and consider his prayer. Then in v3, David waits for an answer.
 
In v3, one aspect of David’s prayers is to pray in the morning. This appears to be a routine habit of his. The phrase ‘morning by morning’ is repeated twice for emphasis. This is a reminder for us to also pray in the morning. Why?

1. Because we are the freshest when we awaken. It is after a night’s sleep when our thinking is much more alert than it usually is at the end of a day.
2. It is good to pray before the new day starts. We do not know what the day will behold. We may encounter enemies, be faced with temptations, come face to face with strangers, others we have not seen recently or family members. We may have to discern how to proceed in difficult situations. We may need to have a cognizance of others who may need a word of encouragement. What will happen each new day is unknown.
3. Prayer starts our day off well. We can give God any concerns or burdens we may have. By giving them to God, we can rest in the comfort they are in his hands. And he who is righteous and wise will consider them. We can start our day being unburdened with our cares in this world.
4. We can ask God to strengthen us, guide us with his holy spirit and give us wisdom during the day.

Mornings are when the sun rises, new adventures lay before us and we should be ready to embark upon them.
 
Point: Prayer in the morning is beneficial.