As You Pray Today

The pendulum swings, I believe for most of us,between arrogance and defeat when it comesto our prayer life.

One day we wake feeling on top of the world,like we can accomplish the great task of living well. On those days we demand of God a list,suggestions how He can be of most use to theworld and to our lives. A holy honey-do-list.

And then, on other days, we wake up saddenedby the weight we carry, both in our hearts andon our shoulders. On those days we don't even approach God with our aches. Why bother?

And then we read Psalm 143.

Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleasfor mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!

We see these two truths about God together:

God is faithful.

He is trustworthy. I can depend on Him to be for me not against me. I can trust that He will never leave me.

God is righteous. He is good. Whatever He does is right. He is Holy and perfect. He is wise.

I am so thankful these two go together. I needto hear them in the same breath. I need toknow that God is taking care of me in His right ways.

When I pray, I need to remember that He isgoing to act out of His Bigness in my littlenessbecause of both His faithfulness and righteousness.

It's not just here in this Psalm that we see them side-by-side. The Old Testament writers often couple them together when talking about Jesus. Even when talking about our Eternity in the presence of God, we read in Zechariah 8:

Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.

So, this morning, as I come to God in prayer – I want to remember that He is for me, and that He is good. I want to be confident that He hears my prayers through His Holiness and His love. Oh, Lord… answer me in Your faithfulness and righteousness.

Read about How God reveals His
Faithfulness...
1 John 4:8, Exodus 34:6,
1 Corinthians 10:13, Psalm 86:5,
2 Kings 13:23

Read about How God reveals His

Righteousness...
Romans 16:27,Matthew 5:48,
Psalm 99:9, Jeremiah 10:10, Psalm 15:8,
2 Chronicles 25:8