The Master's Instructions about specific Christian problems. (Psalm 51, Psalm 63).
Psalm 51 is the prayer that David prayed after sinning badly. God graciously gave him over to a barren and downcast spirit, making him choose either to stay in disobedience or to come back to blessing the only way that was available – through confession to God and cleansing by God.
The story behind this is found in 2 Samuel 11 and 12.
The prayer is based upon the attributes of God. God is merciful, God is loving, God is compassionate and God has the ability to cleanse. David also knows his own actions. He knows he has broken God’s law and God’s heart.
He knows he has been born separated from God and continued to live
there. He begins to see himself as God sees him.
David expresses his trust in God for forgiveness. He knows that only God
can cleanse him and only God can create the man he ought to be out of
the material he currently is.
It is not a selfish prayer. It is not a self-righteous prayer. It is both
relevant to his situation and realistic before God. It is a prayer most
Christians can identify with at some time in their lives.
Psalm 63 is a prayer that David prayed when he was expressing his own
spiritual desires. He had an awareness of God that led to an assurance.
This in turn led to an appetite for more of God. A healthy appetite is
always a sign of a good life.
David’s practical situation was grim. He wondered what the future held.
But his mind was constantly occupied with God. He wanted what God
wanted above everything else. It is a prayer of confidence in God. It is a
prayer of contentment before God. Yet it is also a prayer of
consecration: ‘I stay close to you’ (v.8).
Elijah ‘cried out to the Lord’ when he did not understand the natural
disaster that was before him (1 Kings 17:20). He prayed publicly that God
would prove Himself to be real before the disbelieving nation (18:36-37).
He knew both times of elation and times of depression, yet the epitaph
given him in James 5:17-18 reads: ‘[Elijah] prayed earnestly.’ He prayed
in conflict with the world. He voiced his own complaints before God. He
communicated with God all he could.
I was told in Bible College to pray when I felt like it and to pray when I
didn’t feel like it! That is good advice.
Study the needs you see in your own life and in the world around you.
Seek God for the answers. Submit to His will for what you should be
involved in.
Enlarge your vision in prayer.
Pray for yourself,
but also pray for your circle of friends.
Pray for your neighbours.
Pray for your town.
Pray for your nation.
Pray for your world.
Pray small, specific prayers to which you can see a specific answer.
God will stir you into action for Himself.
Discussion guide for ‘How to Pray’
Bible readings Psalm 51 and 63
1. Share what you find is the hardest thing about personal prayer.
2. In your Bible, Psalm 51, circle in red pencil the times David writes
“me, my or I”. (If you prefer not to mark your Bible – just list them
on a separate sheet of paper).
When you have done that circle in blue or black pencil the number
of times David writes “your, you or God”.
From your marking, what does David know about God?
From your marking, what does David know about himself?
3. Why is it important to focus on God as well as on our problems?
4. Why is it important to see ourselves as God sees us?
5. In your Bible, Psalm 63, circle in red pencil the times David writes
“me. I, or my”.
When you have done that circle in blue or black pencil the number
of times David writes “your, you or God”.
From your marking, what does David know about God?
From your marking, what does David know about himself?
6. What do you learn from Elijah’s situation and his prayer (verse 20)
in 1 Kings 17:17-24? What does this mean for your prayers?
7. What do you learn from Elijah’s situation and his prayer (verses
36-37) in 1 Kings 18:20-46? What does this mean for your prayers?
8. Read Matthew 6:5-15. How many guidelines for your own praying
can you find in these verses? List them and discuss them.
9. Why do you think it is good to pray alone?
10. What is the importance of asking for “daily bread”, verse 11?
11. Why should a Christian pray, “Your will be done”, verse 10? I have
heard it said that to do this lacks faith. What do you think?
Also consider Luke 22:41-42.