This is the Truth Network. Encouraging Prayer God offers an open invitation for his people to talk with him at any time about anything. On encouraging prayer, Dr. James Banks, author of the best-selling Prayers for Prodigals and many other books on prayer, provides weekly biblical insight to help you learn to love to pray. And now, here's James.
So today on encouraging prayer, how to pray. when it's your fault. What? When James told me the name of that topic, I was like, I resemble that comment, and I'm very excited to know. James, uh I've been there.
I've done that. Yeah, haven't. We all. You know, and and I appreciate your starting point. You know, I resemble that comment because isn't that the hardest part of it to actually be able to say, yeah, Mm-hmm.
It is my fault. I need God's help. Oh, it is. Yeah, it it's just, uh You know, something that we deal with, man, and we've got to be honest about it, and we've got to own up to it.
So, you know, I I think the first place. is to begin with a confession. God, I blew it, I'm sorry, you know, to start in that place. But then What happens after that? What happens, for example, when you're dealing with the consequences of what you've done and, you know, you're feeling like Yes, I deserve this, but Lord, help me.
Have mercy. Does that make sense? Oh, like I said at the beginning, I completely resemble that remark. And I was just like, man, I hope he's going to share something I really need because I've certainly been there. We have, and the truth is that so many prayers in the Old Testament come out of this place.
So yeah, Robbie, I was recently reading in the Prayer Devotional Bible, which was written by Ben Patterson, a writer on prayer that I admire. And he's looking at Isaiah 63 and 64. And he sees some, you know, he sees this very thing in it. He says, we're in a terrible mess. It's all our fault, and we're getting exactly what we deserve.
But please, Lord. Come down and save us. And he says, that's the gist of this prayer. It's the kind of prayer that. Appears many times in scripture, perhaps also in your life.
It's not that bad things are happening to good people. But that bad things are happening to bad Paul. Oof. Yeah, We might react against that and say, well, yeah, it's not that I'm a bad person, but still, you know.
Sometimes we do things and and We know, we know.
So Patterson picks up on what's happening in Isaiah 63 and 64. And if you think about the context, here the kingdom of Judah has been through hard times. I mean, Sennacherib from Assyria has been oppressing them. And you know, they're They're receiving judgment for things that they've done to Turn. From the Lord.
But In the middle of that, offers up this prayer. And he says in Isaiah 63: Look down from heaven and see from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are your zeal, your might, your tenderness, and compassion are withheld from us? You know, where are the things, God, that you did for us? Um In the in the past, And then he says, Why, Lord, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you?
So he's not denying anything that he's done. He's just. Lamenting the whole thing, and I think that's a good place to go. You know, it's like, God, I am sorry. You know, this whole situation, it's just it's just bad, but I still I still know that you're here.
And I I thank you. for being here because I still know that you're good. Even in the middle of that. I think after we've confessed, that's a good place to go, isn't it? You know, I was just thinking, I was listening, and I was thinking insight I hadn't had before that.
Really, your prayer is almost like now in this place. of repentance, can you guide me through Uh how to You know Mm-hmm. The situation as best as I can in helping other people deal with what I've done or walk with me through what. You know what my next steps with you would be because I just want to be with you now because I realize on my own I've blown it. You see, that's the thing.
That's the thing. It's that hunger for God in the moment. It's like, Lord, this is such a mess, I cannot figure it out. Without you. And you see Isaiah 64 beginning that way.
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down. You know, it's like What's my hope? What's my help unless you come down and. And move in this and fix it somehow. I don't know.
you know, what else I could do. And then he goes in in verse 4 into since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived. No eye has seen any God besides you who acts on behalf of those. Who waits? for him.
And it's not that we're so good that we deserve this. You know, that we that we deserve God's intervening and and help. Uh it's instead that He never ceases to be good. Even when when we are done the wrong thing and are suffering the consequences for our actions. But I think this is so important because You know, it's not like God is holding us at arm's length then and looking at us and shaking his head and saying, I'm not going to help you, you know.
I mean, he's not like that. His heart is moved toward those who are humbled. And I think if we really come to him with humble prayer, he will meet us. even in the middle of our mess. Oh, it's so encouraging.
It really, really is. And I I think we ought to b You know, pray is that seems like a perfect thing to do. Because I know we've not only been there, it seems like we are there on several relationships and situations in our lives. I can imagine several people can relate, especially with family. Isn't that the place where we fall often?
So let's pray. Lord, thank you for this insight. Wow. The ability to walk with you through the consequences and to. Know that you're there, loving on us in ways that we can't even imagine.
Lord, help us to turn to you and stay there as we walk through the consequences of the things we've messed up where we tried to do it on our own. Lord, help us to stick closer than ever. We need you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
And then You can hear more from Pastor James by visiting his website, jamesbanks.org, or by visiting Peace Church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you as you pray. This is the Truth Network. Yeah.
