Psalm 27:14 - Wait for Jehovah

^ 1 Thessalonians 5:17 -- Pray Without Ceasing

Psalm 18:3 -- I will call upon Jehovah

I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised. -- Psalm 18:3,  American Standard Version.

No matter what our circumstances may be in life, we should always remember to call upon Jesus' God, Jehovah (Micah 5:4), in thanks and gratitude for what we have, whether it be little or great abundance. To the consecrated child of God, it is not something that should be put in the back of the mind to do when we have nothing else to do. It is a matter that should be of constant concern at all times, no matter what we are doing. To call upon Jehovah would thus signify a heart unity with Jehovah's purposes as He has revealed them in the Bible.

Only those, however, who are truly consecrated can reach a high level of appreciation of how Jehovah is worthy to be praised. In a way, all of us will, in our sinful flesh, fall short of such appreciation of Jehovah's worthiness. It is only as we walk by the spirit as new creatures in Christ, and not according to the sinful flesh, that such can be fully appreciated.

Nevertheless, for the regenerated child of God, the only way to call upon Jehovah is in the name of His Son, Jesus. There is no other way that God has given for us to come to Him. 

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Psalm 62:5 - My Expectation

My expectation is from him. -- Psalm 62:5.

If we belong to Christ, these words should surely bring a blessing in our lives. Whatever may happen, our expectation is from Jehovah, our God. We cast all our cares upon Him, and thus we are able to go about our service to Him in quietness, walking in the path of righteousness. Giving our hearts in submission to His care, we have peace although we may be surrounded by many who are murmuring and at unrest. We find contentment in whatever our Heavenly Father may send in answer to our prayers of faith. We may not receive from our Heavenly Father what we might expect. What we receive from our Heavenly Father may not be congenial to the feelings of the physical man, but we have the assurance that Jehovah is our strength in the time of trouble. (Psalm 37:39) Thus, although all may appear to be dismal from the standpoint of what is seen by our physical eyes, we should raise our thoughts above the physical to the spiritual, and thus rejoice in Jehovah, and be joyous in the God of our salvation. -- Habakkuk 3:17-19.

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01-30 - Luke 18:1 - Always Pray

He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not become weary — Luke 18:1, RLIV.

In praying to our Heavenly Father, we should endeavor to pray only for we know is in harmony with the righteous principles as found in the Bible. Our requests in prayer should always include the thought: Father, if it is your will. Only if our prayer is in harmony with the will of our Heavenly Father can we be assured of results. 

Nevertheless, more specifically, Jesus appears to be praying as means to maintain faithfulness to the Heavenly Father. For such, whatever we are doing each day, our thoughts should in prayer to the Heavenly Father for guidance and strength to glorify him no matter what our circumstances may be in life, that we might do whatever would be in accordance with His will,. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

Related Scriptures:

Isaiah 62:6,7; Psalm 118:5; Matthew 15:27,28; 21:22; Luke 2:37; 11:5-13; 21:36; John 15:7; 16:23; Romans 12:12; 2 Corinthians 12:8,9; Colossians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Hebrews 4:16; 1 John 5:14; 3:22; James 1:5,6; Jeremiah 29:13.

Father, to You We Look

Father, to you we look in all our sorrow,

Thou art the fountain whence our healing flows;

Dark though the night, joy cometh with the morrow,

Safely they rest who in thy love repose.

When fond hopes fail and skies are dark before us,

When the vain cares that vex our life increase—

Comes with its calm the thought that you are o’er us,

And we grow quiet folded in your peace.

In name of our Lord Jesus. Amen

Adapted from poem by Frederick Hosmer

Related Online (We do not necessarily agree with all statements presented by others)

The Province of Prayer

The Prayers of the New Creation

The Privilege and Power of Prayer

Praying Effectively

Importuning in Prayer

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Philippians 4:6 - In Nothing Be Anxious

{Philippians 4:6} In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. - RLIV.

THE question may arise, Why will not God give us the things which He sees us to need without our making petition to Him and claiming His promises? Undoubtedly because we need previously to come into the proper attitude of heart to receive His favors and to be advantaged by them. Even as it is, we may be sure that we do not sufficiently appreciate the divine care bestowed upon us hitherto and now. Even in the attitude of prayer and thanksgiving we probably do not discern one-half of our causes for gratitude, as we shall see them by and by, when we shall know even as we are known. -- Charles Taze Russell, Excerpt from "Rejoice in the Lord Alway", The Watch Tower, January 1, 1903, page 5 (quote is from page 8, Reprints page 3128).

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If our hearts are overly-anxious about life's affairs we are surely being robbed of rest and peace, which, in turn, would indicate a lack of faith. In everything, in affairs in the home, in business cares, in guidance of wayward children, in poverty, in all trials, cares, temptations, wants, woes, disappointments, calamities, failures, etc., we should always cast our burden on Jehovah through prayer, and we are assured that He will sustain us. (Psalm 55:22) At the same time, we should constantly be thankful for whatever His providences may allow. The thankful heart of the child of God recognizes that He who favored us and redeemed us through His Son will even more so favor us and do for us now that we are His. 

We doubt that any of God's people will claim that their lives are 100% without anxiety. Nevertheless, when we get any kind of anxious feeling, we should immediately take the matter to the Heavenly Father in prayer, and leave it with him. Doing so will alleviate the anxiety that might otherwise cripple our faith and servitude of our Father through Jesus. Additionally, we should always keep in mind what Paul stated: "Rejoice in Jehovah always! Again I will say, Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4, RLIV) While it may be difficult to have rejoicing in our hearts while undergoing unpleasant circumstances, such rejoicing will help alleviate anxiety and make all distressing experiences more bearable.

Sadly, many in the world make requests to stars, cakes, Santa Claus, and many other things. Paul tells us that we should make our requests, our petitions, known to God, our Heavenly Father. In whatever we ask of the Father, however, it should not be for the satisfaction of the desires of our sinful flesh. James tells us, "You ask, and don't receive, because you ask amiss, so that you may spend it for your pleasures." (James 4:3, World English) Prayers for fleshly desires may actually increase anxiety rather than alleviate anxiety. Our prayers should always be in harmony with what Jesus said to his Father: "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."  (Luke 22:42, World English) Again, this should be from the heart, not just an outward expression, otherwise, our hearts may become subject to anxiety. 

Paul also mentions thanksgiving. Heartfelt thanksgiving shows appreciation for the Heavenly Father's provisions, not just for any fleshy sustenance, but more importantly, for all help along spiritual lines. Such thankfulness, however, should be not simply a matter of words recited by the mouth, but it should come from the inner being of the child of God. 

-- Ronald R. Day, Sr. (ResLight)

Related:

BSM Aids * Video

Cast Your Care Upon Him

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