Pleading With God In Riverside
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We, too, can plead with God in prayer as Hezekiah did and for the sake of Christ He will hear us and He will listen.
In the purest of jealousies, God will never allow anything to compete with him for the rulership of our souls. Therefore, he refuses to participate in any bargain that would tempt us to search for life outside of him.
Pleading is biblical Jeremiah cries out to the Lord, “Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you” (Jeremiah ). Joshua pleads the case of the Israelites and the disgrace their annihilation would bring upon the name of God (Joshua -9); and God responds with His grace.
God is not looking for dispassionate, catatonic, listless disciples. And what is true of His disciples is also true of their prayers–He desires our passionate pleadings. The Psalmist says, “Pour out your heart before him” (Psalm ). He then offers these comforting words, “God is a refuge for us” (Psalm ).
In times of distress turn to God in prayer and ask Him to fulfill His promises. Attitude of Humility & Expectancy. Acknowledge & Confess Sin. Bring Specific Concerns & Details to God. Focus on God's Character. Base Our Requests on the Promises in God's Word.
Put Him in Remembrance It means that as a covenant believer, you can stand before the throne of God when you pray and remind Him of His promises. You can lay your case legally before Him and plead your case as a lawyer would plead his case before a judge.
Pleading with God is that part of prayer (a subset of supplication) in which we argue our case with God, as Isaac Watts wonderfully says, “in a fervent yet humble manner.” It is not just petition, but petition well-reasoned. It is not just requesting, but passionately appealing.
Simply put, no, you can't make a deal with God, because His righteousness is unchanging, and our sin separates us from Him. Trying to bargain with God comes from self-righteousness and ultimately fails. Instead of making deals, we should approach God with humility and obedience, trusting in His grace.
Go to the written Word of God. Find scriptures that apply to your situation, and make those the foundation for your petition. Consult with the Holy Spirit. Write your petition. Pray the prayer of petition. Have confidence. Praise God for the answer.
BIBLE TEXT: 7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Do not turn your back on me.
