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's topic is so basic and so simple, but also so vital. James, you say this is one of those things that we know but overlook again and again. And of course, we're talking about the peace that comes when we pray. Right. We we know this, Robbie, but even though we know it, Yeah.
E Still, something keeps us from going there. And what I'm talking about is When we have so much to do that we just feel like we don't have time to pray. And this is the time where you hear that preacher's voice in your head quoting Martin Luther, who says, well, You know, I have so much to do that I have to get up so many hours earlier just to pray. And okay, yeah, I've heard that, I get that. But that doesn't make me feel any better.
It just makes me feel guilty. And you can't guilt people into praying, right? Oh, no. Hehehehehehehehehe You know This is one of those things where we just have to say. I'm gonna do it.
I'm going to do it. I know I'm busy. And God You're worth it. And I've just got to push pause right now because if I don't, And this is where our own Self-interest comes in. Uh if I don't it's just gonna get worse.
Oh, I can tell you, it's the Christian car guy I I have this idea of this check engine light in my mind. That You know, something will hit me or, you know, I'll get a call from some single mom or something and they're problems just overwhelm me immediately. And and I And it's like that check engine light in my flashing and my mind is telling me. Pray, pray, pray. I don't know what else to do.
But for some reason, you know, I don't go there until, you know, finally God gets my attention. Yeah. And I think one of the best people we can go to in kind of looking at how to handle this in our own lives as David. Because if you just go to a few of the Psalms, and we'll start with Psalm 3. David begins that with, Lord, how many are my foes?
How many rise up against me? Many are saying, God will not deliver him. But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the one who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.
So David, surrounded by enemies, you know, so many times in his life, someone was trying to kill him. And and then he goes on and he says I lie down and sleep. I wake again. because the Lord sustains me.
So He calls out to the Lord. The Lord answers him from his holy mountain, and because of that, he has peace. You know, because he's calling out to the Lord. He knows God is meeting him. when he prays.
Um you know, you might say, well, yeah, but Okay, David's prayers were answered because he was David. You know, but what about me? I mean, what about when the answer doesn't seem to come? You know, David says, I call out to the Lord and He answers me from His holy mountain.
Well, then just go to Psalm 4. where he begins Answer me when I call to you. my righteous God. Give me release from my distress. have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
Uh You know, David is in that place where an answer to prayer has not come. And the Then he goes on and he talks about those who are opposing him. And The interesting thing is where the song goes in the very end. Um Just Psalm 6 says, Many, Lord, are asking who will bring us prosperity. Let the light of your face shine on us.
fill my heart with joy. When they're grain and new wine abound, and I love some other translations that say, you know, you have given. give greater joy. and when they're brain and you whine about. And then right here, look at verse 8.
In peace, I will lie down and sleep. For you alone Lord. Make me dwell in safety. And this is why we have to go to the place of prayer because we have to turn our face to God. for God's face to shine on us.
you know, to know that His face is shining on us, to know His peace as this palpable. Almost. thing in in our spirits that then changes everything, even though nothing around us changes, that changes because his light is shining on our souls. Yeah, it's absolutely the case that to curse somebody in that culture, and actually, in reality, is to turn away from them. And so when you turn back towards God, it's automatically.
putting yourself in a position to receive that moronic blessing of having his faith shine upon you. Yeah, yeah. And this matters so much because, again, we just need this. You might say, well, yeah, but I'm not very good at praying.
Well, again, just seek his face. You you might not have the words, just seek his face. Just just turn to him. Just love him, adore him, worship him, praise him. You know, and And he will meet you there.
I love Psalm 131, where David says, My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty. I don't concern myself with great matters or. Things too wonderful for me. I've calmed and quieted myself. This is what we have to learn.
calmed and quieted myself. I'm like a weaned child with its mother. Like a weaned child, I am content. Of course, we know what that means. You know, a child who is not weaned.
With a breastfeeding mother. Yeah. Is always looking for something, you know. And David is saying how No, I I just I just want you for you, Lord, not for what you can do for me. And any hands with Israel, put your hope in the Lord, both now and forevermore.
because he's worth more than anything else and he always will be. Yeah, that's such a challenge as you said, those things, you know, it's quieting yourself. requires not having a phone around, requires not having some kind of screen in your faith. Really, how can you turn your face to God if you're facing other things? Yeah.
I think that's a great reminder. That's a really practical reminder. But just go to him. Just just be with him, just realize, you know, I've got a push pause right now. because if I don't, everything is going to spin out of control even worse.
and just because I'm not going to be anchored where I need to be. That's the beauty of it. Our God. wants us. to be with him.
Beautiful. Good place to pray. Let's do it. Abba Father, thank you. Thank you that you you love us with that kind of love.
You just want us near you. And so we affirm that. We want to be near you too, and we're not very good at this. But we know you've called us to it, and we know that we're going to get to worship you for all of eternity.
So help us here, Lord. Help us in this place. Because there is nothing better than being with you, and we just affirm that. Abba, Father, Jesus, Savior. Holy Spirit.
In your name above all names, we pray. Amen. Amen. 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.
