Psalm 90: Teach Us to Number our Days

Psalm 90 is a community lament, but it functions as a wisdom song. The author of this Psalm is Moses and its themes can be seen in Genesis 1–3 and are latter taken up by Solomon in Ecclesiastes. Psalm 90 begins book four of the Psalms. This book (four) tends to have more cooperate worship songs than the other books. Book three favored the title elohim, God, but book four favors the personal name of God: Yahweh, especially connected to His covenant promises. The Preface to the Holman Christian Standard Bible states: “The HCSB® Old Testament consistently translates the Hebrew names for God as follows: Elohim = God, Yahweh or YHWH = LORD, Adonai = Lord, Adonai Yahweh = Lord God, Yahweh Sabaoth = LORD of Hosts, El Shaddai = God Almighty. The HCSB® uses Yahweh, the personal name of God in Hebrew, when a text emphasizes Yahweh as a name: His name is Yahweh (Ps 68:4).” Thus, every time you read “Lord,” you should think adonai (the Master, divine one, Majestic Ruler) and every time you read LORD, you should think Yahweh (pronounced Yahveh, the eternally present and faithful covenant keeping God). The author is deliberately emphasizing something by his choice of God’s name or titles, so you do not want to ignore the difference. That is the problem with pronouncing LORD and Lord the same, when listening to the text read, you cannot tell what the original author was emphasizing by his choice of God’s proper name (Yahweh) or one of His titles (God, Lord, Almighty one, etc.) The Legacy Standard Bible translates God's name as Yahweh every time it is used in the Hebrew Bible instead of LORD.

Exodus 3:14 God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you." God also said to Moses, "Say this to the Israelites: Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation. Go and assemble the elders of Israel and say to them: Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to me and said: I have paid close attention to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt. (Exod 3:14–16 HCSB)

Isaiah 42:8 I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, or my praise to idols. (Isa 42:8 HCSB)

Psalm 68:4 Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds--His name is Yahweh--and rejoice before Him. (Psa 68:4 HCSB)

 Notice the purple and gold banner on the wall, front left that has been in the worship center for years, which has on it: יהוה Yahweh. This is the proper name for God. Also note that Yeshua is Jesus’ actual name, pronounced like his mother pronounced it. Messiah, meshiach, christos, Christ (all words for the Anointed One), and words like Lord, Emmanuel, and God are His titles.

  I. The Lord (adonai) is God (vs. 1–2)

      A. God Himself is the dwelling place of pilgrims and strangers on the earth

      B.  God is the source of our security, protection, joy, life, strength, even breath

      C. God existed before the earth gave birth to the mountains; thus, He is older than the Mts.

      D. God is eternal, but the earth and humans are time bound

      E. God’s love is eternal as well as the protection He offers His own people

      F. God is creator and sovereign king over His creation

      G. The Lord (adonai) alone is God, there is no other God in time or space

 II. A lament over the temporariness of life (vs. 3–12)

      A. God has authority over men (vs. 3–6)

           1. Temporary of temporariness, all is temporary (Eccl 1:2)

           2. Things on earth have a beginning point and ending point (Gen 5:27)

           3. When compared to God, the eternal one, humans are just dust (Isa 40:15)

           4. Men are dependent beings relying on the only Independent Being (Gen 3:10)

           5. God created time, but is not under it or bound by it (2 Pet 3:8)

           6. God determines when people die, by His decree, not man’s (Lam 2:19)

           7. Human life spans are like grass that withers the same day it sprouts

           8. Even renewed human strength quickly fades away to weakness

      B. God wrath is against sin (vs. 7–10)

           1. Sin always produces death

And He said to Adam, "Because you listened to your wife's voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'Do not eat from it': The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust." (Gen 3:17–19 HCSB)

           2. Death produces fear, at least of the unknown, but for some, judgment

           3. God has anger, indignation, wrath, and judgment against sin

           4. Sin shortens earthly life for everyone, and God records every sin

           5. Life on earth has many difficulties and includes many sorrows

           6. Life under the sun is difficult and short, usually 70 to 80 years

      C. The correct response to God’s wrath (vs. 11–12)

           1. A sane fear is to fear the chastisement of God against sinners

           2. It is wise to take account of the days you are given, 70 years is 25,550 days, 80 years is 

               29,200 days, 89.5 is 32,668 days. Life on earth is short, and the judgment is coming

          3. God can teach us and grant us a wise heart, especially at funerals—facing life’s brevity

          4. Humans live in the moment and often ignore the big picture of things, Day of the LORD

          5. Wisdom begins and ends with the majestic Lord’s revelation and illumination (Prov 1:7)

III. A prayer for restoration of the covenant mercy and grace of God (vs. 13–17)

      A. Please bring the chastisement to an end soon, followed by a new beginning

      B. Please restore to us the joy of our saving relationship with You

      C. Please give us a long period of your presence and blessing

      D. Please allow our work to have a permanence by Your Grace amidst all the temporariness

      E. We struggle with the puzzling things and the temporariness of all our efforts

Lessons to live by:

• The eternal God is the only secure dwelling place for temporal human beings

• Life on earth is temporary, but God is eternal (no beginning and no end)

• Man has dignity, because he is made in the image of God

• Man needs humility because he was formed from the dust of the earth

• It is never right for an individual to play God and intentionally terminate human life, even if it saves money. There are times when it is proper to remove systems that are preventing death, but this does not always include withholding food or water. The State does need to take the life of its worst criminals that have significantly broken God’s moral laws. This includes the police, military, and executioners, and citizens defending themselves (See Gen 9:5–6; Rom 13:1–7)

• Pray and ask God for wisdom about time, life, death, punishment, and purpose

Psalm 69: A King’s Cry for Help in a Time of Distress

This psalm is an individual lament written by King David. It is quoted a number of times in the New Testament, mostly with an application to David’s descendant, Yeshua (Jesus). But the story and situation first applied to David in a more figurative sense. Parts of the psalm happened to Jesus in a more direct sense than their first fulfillment with David.  Lament psalms often have the following elements: 1. Invocation, 2. A plea to God for help, 3. Complaints, 4. Confession of sin or an assertion of innocence, 5. Curse of enemies (imprecation), 6. Confidence in God’s response, 7. Hymn or blessing. This psalm can be easily divided into two equal parts, 1–18 and 19–36.

  I. A Prayer out of personal need (vs. 1–6)

     A. Invocation and a plea to God for help (vs. 1–2)

     B. David uses a vivid word picture, of a man sinking in the mud in the middle of a river 

     C. David is feeling overwhelmed by his problems [inner turmoil, depression] (vs. 2)

     D. A tearful complaints to God (vs. 3–4)

         1. David switches to another picture, a man in deep grief, sorrow, and pain (vs. 3)

         2. David is waiting on God but does not yet have an answer. Where are you, God? (vs. 3)

         3. David is being punished for things he did not do (vs. 4)

ESV John 15:24-25 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.  But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.' 

     E. Confession of sin, David is not completely innocent. His folly is being careless with the 

          truth (vs. 5)

     F. Affirmation of God’s knowledge (vs. 5)

     G. Request: Don’t let me cause disgrace to God or His people (vs. 6)

 II.  Persecution for righteousness's sake (vs. 7–12)

     A. A tearful complaint to God (vs. 7–12)

     A. Persecution: A badge of honor, because of his devotion to God (vs. 7–8) [Acts 5:41]

     C. David’s zeal to prepare to build God’s temple caused him to be slandered (vs. 9)

     D. Antagonists attack the one leading a work of God (vs. 9)

     E. David’s descendant, Jesus, cleansed the temple twice and this verse is applied to Him

     ESV John 2:17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."

      F. Those who hate God also hate His king [David & Yeshua] (vs. 9)

ESV Rom 15:3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."

     G. The pain that David bore brought joy to his enemies (vs. 10–11)

     H. Those who drink the forbidden strong drink, unmixed wine, the drunkards, make up songs 

         mocking the king [David & Jesus] (vs. 12)

III. A prayer for the deliverance of God’s servant (vs. 13–18)

      A. A plea for God to help (vs. 13–18)

      B. Confidence in God’s response (vs. 13–18)

          1. He asks for God’s sure salvation (vs. 13)

          2. Based on Yahweh’s covenant faithfulness, love, and mercy (vs. 13, 16)

    C. David returns to the dangerous water picture (vs. 14–15)

    D. An earnest plea for God to intervene (vs. 16–18)

 IV. The exhaustion of being constantly under attack (vs. 19–21)

        A. A tearful complaint to God about his enemies (vs. 19–21)

        B. Affirmation of God’s knowledge (vs. 19–21)

        C. The betrayal of ‘friends’ is always very painful

        D. David gives a word picture of man hungry and thirsty, given things that will make his  

             pain worse, his appetites intensified (vs. 21) [This happened to Jesus]

V. A prayer for God’s justice (vs. 22–28)

    A. King David’s curse was against the enemies of God, His people, and His king

    B. Israel was and is a physical nation that God has chosen

    C. Individual Christians are not in a battle with humans, but spiritual forces (2 Cor 10:4)

    D. Christians can pray against their indwelling sin and fight spiritual battles (Eph 6:10–18)

    E. David’s son Jesus tells us as individuals to love our enemies

    F. Believers in heaven pray for God’s justice to come to the wicked (Rev 6:9–11)

 VI. Personal Praise to God in faith (vs. 29–33)

      A. Confidence in God’s response (vs. 29–33)

      B. The redeemed and ransom worship God with song (vs. 30)

      B. The heart trumps the hoofs, the moral [love God with all your heart and your neighbor as 

           yourself] trumps the ceremonial law [sacrifices, diets, rituals, feasts] (vs. 31)

VII. Corporate Praise to God (vs. 34–36)

       A. A hymn of cosmic praise (vs. 34)

       B. Remembering God’s future promise to ethnic Israel (vs. 35–36)

Lessons to live by:

• We can tell God what we are thinking and feeling in prayer. There is no need to pray as if we can hide our real feelings and thoughts from God.

• Do you live in such a way that you cause people to attack God because of your personality or lifestyle? Do you bring shame on other Christians who know you? Do you bring shame on your church home? You should not be a disgrace to God or His people

• The godly will be persecuted for their devotion to God. The prosperity gospel does sell as well during a struggling economy

• Has anyone made fun of you because you were a disciple of Jesus, believe in creation, stood up and opened your mouth for the defenseless babies being murdered? You are in good company with King David and King Jesus

• We need to include confession of sin in our prayers like David. We enter the Christian life with repentance, and we stay close to God and clean with repentance

• Our sin damages the reputation and ministry of other Christians

Psalm 61: A Prayer from an Exhausted Heart

This psalm is either an individual lament, a royal psalm, or a royal lament psalm (individual). This psalm was written by David during a dangerous time in his life. He is away from Jerusalem and is battle weary. This psalm does not mention the covenant name of Yahweh in it, as is usual for psalms in this second book of psalms.

  I. A prayer for protection (vs. 1–2)

     A. Parallelism: Hear my cry, listen to my prayer

     B. Location is far from Jerusalem. Pagans viewed the gods as territorial

     C. David’s heart is faint, depressed, discouraged, weary, exhausted (Jonah)

     D. David is asking God to lead him to safety, he is calling 911 spiritually

     E. David needs divine protection from adversity

     F. The rock is metaphor for a fortified, safe, refuge

         1. On a high cliff you can see the enemy for miles

         2. Gravity and a few boulders will remove the enemy

     G. God alone can deliver, and David has faith that God will protect him

II. Confident praise for God’s protection (vs. 3–5)

     A. David recounts the past, God has been his refuge before

     B. God is a strong tower (figure of comparison)

          Military defensive structure for protection

    C.  David longs to be at the public worship (tabernacle) special presence of God

    D. David desires protection and care under the wings (figure of comparison)

    E. He is confident that God has heard his prayer

    F. Vows were part of prayers for deliverance on the part of man, as he reminded 

         God of his covenant promises in prayer, this was reciprocal

    G. All the chosen remnant enjoyed “the heritage” (land and blessings of the covenant)

III. A prayer for protection (vs. 6–7)

      A. God preserve the one on the throne of Israel

      B. God preserve the descendants of the king

      C. Remember your covenant promise to me (Ps 89:36)

      D. One of David’s descendants, the Messiah, will rule forever (Eph 4:7–13)

IV. Confident praise for God’s protection (vs. 8)

      A. David is sure God will keep him safe

      B. David intends to praise God for this every day

      C. David is going to express his love for God every day

           1. Normally the vows are paid immediately after the prayer is answered

           2. This is not a bribe. It is a promised extra expression of devotion that

                the person would have to remember and chose to perform

Lessons to live by:

• When depress or exhausted we are specially tempted to sin. Pray instead

• When in trouble, go to God in prayer if you have a relationship with Him

• God is our shelter, protector, refuge, defense, parent

• Trust in God as you pray and after you pray

• Praise God in faith when you trust Him to keep the promises of the Bible

• Praise God with joy when He answers your prayers

• Remember God covenant love for those who belong to Him

• In great gratitude, serve the God who loves you so 

• Look in faith to the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ

• His righteous rule will have no end

• Love God with all you are and have

Psalm 59: God is My Rescuer

This psalm is viewed by some as an individual lament, others a community lament, and still others as a royal lament. It was written by David as a song of mourning and prayer, asking God to deliver him from his enemies, but it broadens out to the nations. The first event that is tied to this prayer is 1 Sam 19:11–18. But it is applicable to many situations, much broader than an evil king abusing his power. There are several themes in this psalm that make it difficult to see the structure intended by the author. It seems each Bible student divides the psalm differently.

  I. A prayer for deliverance/salvation (vs. 1–3)

     A. God alone is the One who can deliver, protect, save

     B. David cannot turn to the government; it is a wicked ruler who is stalking him

     C. The righteous will have enemies that will seek their destruction and use ruthless tactics

     D. The wicked deny the sacredness of human life, they are people of bloodshed

     E. The wicked set traps for the righteous and loves to divide people

     F. The wicked love sinful behavior and breaking God’s laws and bringing calamity on others

    G. The wicked use the element of surprise to their advantage

 II. A cry for justice (vs. 4–5)

     A. The wicked attack the righteous without cause

     B. The government was pursing David when he was innocent

     C. The government is not following justice, but the will of corrupt men

     D. God, the sovereign king, must reign in the wicked leaders: God is the Divine Warrior

     E. It is God who punishes the nations of the world for violating His moral law

     F. Yahweh is the God of armies and the God of Israel, His covenant people

    G. Antagonistic people will attack the innocent they perceive as a threat to their power or 

         position, do not join yourselves with them

    H. The Great King in a covenant was responsible to bring his army to defend his loyal 

         governors and subjects (Rev 19:11–21)

III. A description of the wicked (vs. 6–7)

     A. The wicked are like a pack of wild dogs that come into an area looking for food

     B. They are cowards, but they try to intimidate others with their noise

     B. They promote disorder, division, and chaos, and are extremely arrogant

     C. Their talk is mocking, scoffing, accusing, and lying

     D. They deny God’s sovereignty and God’s justice

          1. They are sure they will get away with their sin

          2. They think no one knows about their backroom deals or midnight meetings

IV. A description of God, our hope (vs. 8–10a)

      A. God sees, hears, and records all things. He laughs at those covering up sin

      B. God knows that lawbreaking is self-destructive and the secrets will be revealed

      C. God will make sure His will triumphs in justice and deliverance (Exod 1:8)

      D. Yahweh is stronger than the enemies of the believer

      E. Yahweh is a stronghold and defender of His people

      F. God showers His hesed (covenant love) on his anointed ruler and on His people 

 V. A cry for justice (vs. 10b–13)

      A. God will bring deliverance and justice in His time

      B. The wicked rulers will be held accountable for their thoughts, plans, deeds, and words

      C. These men are deceptive, cruel, and corrupt. What they have sown, they will reap

      D. God will make an example out of the wicked rulers from time to time

      E. These men are liars, slanderers, arrogant, and proud

      F. Wrath from God will come upon them, even though they were part of His wrath on others

     G. God punishment of the wicked shows His rule and authority over Israel, the church, and 

          the world 

     H. God’s wrath on the wicked is another proof of His existence and sovereignty

VI. Trust in God’s response (vs. 14–17)

      A. While the wicked are barking and growling, the righteous are praising God in song

      B. We sing of God’s power, sovereignty, and might, therefore we can trust Him to act

      C. We sing with joy of God’s grace and covenant love

      D. Each new day we can sing of God’s power and might to judge evil

      E. Faith and confidence replace the mourning of the acts of wicked leaders

      F. God has protected David and His people for generations through the times of persecution

      G. God is the only reliable stronghold and refuge in tough times

      H. God is our strength, so let's join David and praise Him for His awesome power

       I. We will experience the hatred of the enemies of the truth, but at the same time, the 

           covenant love of our God

Lessons to live by:

• Salvation/deliverance ultimately comes from God and not from men or nations

• Wicked governmental leaders will pursue and seek to destroy God’s people

• We can cry to God for justice like the Jews under Egyptian bondage

• Wicked talk reveals a wicked heart

• God alone is our true defense and shield

• God loves you and will bring about justice in His time

• God is all powerful, and fully sovereign, He sees and knows all

• God is holy and will bring to justice those who do wicked deeds

• God’s wrath is now being revealed from heaven against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men

• We should praise God for who He is during the trials and storms

• God is faithful and God has covenant love for His people

Psalm 35: A Prayer for Vindication

                      An Individual Lament

  I. A call for the help of the Divine Warrior. vs. 1–3

     A. Turn wicked people over to Yahweh in prayer.

     B. First, David asks God to take his enemies to court “contend.”

     C. Second, David asks God to go to war against those attacking him.

     D. Yahweh has the tools to protect His own people.

     E. God, intervene in time and space to deliver me.

 II. A prayer for Divine vindication. vs. 4–10

     A. David asks God to bring shame on those attacking him without cause.

     B. May their plans for my demise fail.

     C. Send the Messenger of Yahweh to my defense. Exod 23:20–22

     D. Their travels will be dangerous. Prov 4:19

     E. These people set traps for the innocent. This is an unprovoked attack.

     F. Prayer for God to stop them with justice.

     G. Yahweh’s justice causes the righteous to rejoice in His salvation.

     H. Imprecatory sections of the Psalms require careful New Covenant application.

          Luke 18:7; Rev 6:10; Gen 4:10; Matt 23:35; Heb 12:24

          The blood of the innocent cries out to God on its own

          Jesus (Luke 23:34) and Stephen (Act 7:60) are also models for us

          When God is in a covenant relationship with someone, when you attack them

           You are attacking God. This is not a fight you are going to win.

          Gen 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you.”

    I. God’s deliverance leads the righteous to worship and praise Him.

III. The pain of being attacked by a gang.  vs. 11–18

      A. False accusations (slander) are an old trick of Accuser of the brethren.

           David, Jesus, Stephen

      B. The pain of having kindness being returned with evil.

           Saul, Absalom, Judas

      C. The more a leader invests in someone, the greater the pain when the attack.

           Not, you too Brutus?

      D. When a leader stumbles, he finds out who his real friends are.

      E. False friends will rejoice when you are knocked down.

      F. Gangs can do great violence with their words.

          David’s flight from Absalom, Jesus, Stephen

      G. The godly leader call on God to defend him from these attacks.

      H. The Master of the Universe is watching this gang attack His chosen one.

       I. The gang has become like wild beasts.

       J. David trust God in great faith and his salvation will lead to corporate worship. 

 IV. A prayer for Divine vindication.  vs. 19–25

       A. The heartless mob gloats over an injured soldier.

       B. They hate without a good reason. Not self defense.

       C. He is again betrayed by those who should be his allies.

       D. They have gathered so called “facts” as evidence against him.

       E. The false witnesses are speaking against him in public.

       F. This injustice requires God to step in.

            “Like a lamb before his shearers, he opened not his mouth.”

      G. Yahweh see the evil done against his anointed servant.

      H. God will show his servant to be innocent on His own time.

       I. A delay of justice causes the wicked to rejoice too soon.

  V. The joy of Divine deliverance. vs. 26–28

       A. God alone can bring justice is some situations.

       B. We should pray for justice and righteousness to triumph.

       C. When justice returns to the earth, God’s people will be filled with joy.

       D. God delights in the well-being of His servants.

       E. God’s answer to prayers with acts of deliverance allow us to move 

            from petitions to adoration, praise, and worship.

 VI. Applications

       A. How do we balance “turning the other cheek” and praying for our enemies while at the 

            same time longing for God’s justice to prevail on the earth?

      B. Gospel pacifism does not allow men to stand by allow women and children to be harmed.

      C. How does justice and mercy fit together for a New Covenant believer?

      D. “Vengeance is Mine, says the Lord, I will repay.” Leave room for God to work. Overcome 

           evil with good. “Kill them with kindness.” Rom 12:15–21

      E. If God protects His servants, I need to ask, am I His slave? Matt 6:24 

      F. Can I continue to trust God if he delays in rescuing me?  “Not My will, but Thine be            

          done.”

     G. Why does betrayal by a so-called friend hurt so bad? Does Jesus care or know what it is 

          like? Judas kiss.

PRACTICAL HELPS ABOUT PRAYER

If you are serious about improving your prayer life, read the following. At first, these helps may seem to be frank and restrictive. Although our prayers will never be perfect, we should be willing to examine them critically and strive to improve them.

It is important to consider some bad habits to avoid in improving your praying. First, a safe rule is to never use the word “just” when praying. This habit has been passed around by evangelicals for years without any careful evaluation. Believers who will substitute just two synonyms for the word “just,” namely, the words “only” or “merely,” in their spoken sentences will discover how inappropriate its use can be. For example, one may pray, “Father, I just pray (I merely or only
pray . . .”). Is that really what you mean? Prayer is one of our strongest spiritual weapons. Please don̓t “just” pray; go ahead and pray! Another example is “. . . just (merely) bless Jane and just (merely) help her at this time.” Therefore, in order to communicate properly, especially in public prayer, try to avoid using “just.”

Second, avoid using trite and meaningless phrases when speaking to God. Nebulous over used phrases like “Bless the gift and the giver” are almost never said with heartfelt meaning. Moreover, when praying in public, pray to God. Do not use prayers to make announcements or to inform everyone of your position on an issue. For instance, a pastor once prayed something like this: “Please help Ruth recover, and Thou knowest she will be in the hospital at least another week.” He was actually informing his congregation to keep sending her cards and flowers. Congregational announcements and prayers are to separate things. Therefore, it is wise to remember that our Triune God is God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit —each a real Person deserving reverence and respect.

Third, do not be afraid to pray with your eyes open, reading from the Scriptures. Our prayers should be full of the words of Scripture, especially the promises of God to His covenant people. Likewise, appropriate the Scripture you read and study. Pray through the commands, promises, attitudes, and truths that you discover in the Scriptures. Understanding truths is never enough; they must be appropriated and applied to your life.

Fourth, think through the parts of a prayer. Start with the address and discover how God is approached in the Scriptures (Dan. 9:4; Matt. 11:25). Likewise, notice how God is worshiped in the Scriptures (Ps. 2:11,12 “worship the Lord with reverence ...;” Heb. 12:28—29; John 4:21-24) and do the same. Therefore, realizing God is both transcendent (above us) and imminent (near us), we can pattern our prayers by Scripture.

Fifth, do not put on a pious voice when praying. Also, do not address the Triune God irreverently. Moreover, do not use the Lord̓s name as a punctuation mark for every sentence. For example, “Father, I pray, Father, that Lord . . . you would . . . Father and Lord . . .  It is not wrong to use the Lord̓s name in a prayer more than once, but don̓t use it to fill up every gap in every sentence. The Scriptures warn us against vain babbling (Matt. 6:7) and using the Lord̓s name without a distinct purpose (Ex. 20:7). Likewise, God the Father is a Person and we do not speak to our friends in that manner “Bill, how are you feeling, Bill, and Bill, will you, Bill. . .     

Sixth, we must realize that spiritual warfare is also part of our praying. Caution must be used when we are involved in this type of praying. We are not to shout at or order around or pray to Satan (Jude , Zech. 3:) [See How to meet the Enemy, by John MacArthur, Jr.] It is not wise to do so. Satan is not omnipresent, he might be in Haiti and never hear your prayer / words to him at all. The Bible never permits us to pray to angelic beings. Men are still lower than the angels and should not be ordering them around. Call out to God when you are confronted with evil spirits.  Ask King Jesus to bind, block, thwart demonic, worldly or fleshly activities and spirits.  The Bible says the Holy Spirit is greater than the enemy, not you in your present state before glorification. A praying Christian should be acknowledging God’s greatness and his own weakness and dependency upon God in his prayers. Ephesians 6 lists the offensive weapon of “all prayer” among our equipment for spiritual battle.  Use this weapon in a way that is God honoring and Scriptural.  Recognize that you are not the sinless God-Man, fully God and fully man, nor are you an Apostle of Christ in the process of writing Scripture. Realize what Martin Luther did, “the prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him, his rage we can endure, for lo his doom is sure, one single word shall fell him . . .We are not the right Man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing, Dost ask who that may be?  Christ Jesus it is He. Lord Sabaoth, His name, from age to age the same, and He must win the battle.” As a general rule, speak to Jesus about the problem, and also the person who is under the power of a demon.

Seventh, the New Testament prayers recorded for us all have one emphasis that is missing in many prayers today. That emphasis is to pray for the spiritual growth of individuals and churches.  Of course it is proper to pray for those not yet converted (Rom 10:1; Col 4:3) for physical needs (Matt 6:11), forgiveness (Matt 6:12), for healing from sicknesses (Jam 5:13-14). However, we should be primarily praying for the spiritual growth, service, usefulness, and protection and steadfastness of other Christians (2 Cor 13:9; Eph 1:18-20, 3:14-21). If most Christians answered the question, “Do you daily pray that the Christians you know would grow spiritually?” The answer to that question would reveal this has become a lost priority among modern Christians. It is true that many believers are ignoring one of the most emphasized areas of praying for the New Covenant Believer in the Word of God. You can change that in your own life and prayers.

Last, never pray a prayer without realizing and stating that it is a prayer in Jesus̓ name (John 14:3). It is on the basis of the finished work of Christ that we can come into God̓s presence. Try cashing a check with the payee signature missing from the front of the check. The privilege of prayer was bought with the blood of Christ on our behalf (Heb. 10:19-22; 9:14). Because of the cross-work of Jesus we have direct access to the Father by prayer in Jesus’ name. We do not have to go to God through a chain of command. Therefore, remember and state that your prayer is in Jesus name (based on His person and redemptive work). It is good to begin the prayer in Jesus name and authority as well as ending with this reminder.

Prayer is vital to our spiritual life. We are commanded to pray, but we are not asked to pray perfectly. Do not be discouraged or compare your prayers to those of others. Learn from your leaders and from the Scriptures how to pray more biblically as you grow in your walk with our Sovereign Lord (Dan 9, Matt 6). But, remember, He is also our gracious Father and He hears our prayers even though they are less than perfect. So pray, and then pray some more. You do not gave because you do not ask in prayer (Jam 4:2). Relationships require communication. Talk to God. You will be glad you did.