Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s go to the LORD in prayer to find relief.

Today’s scripture, Psalms 55:1-5, 16-17 (NLT) says…
[1] Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help! [2] Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles. [3] My enemies shout at me, making loud and wicked threats. They bring trouble on me and angrily hunt me down. [4] My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. [5] Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking.
[16] But I will call on God, and the LORD will rescue me. [17] Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the LORD hears my voice.

Consider…
I took piano lessons when I was young. I never progressed beyond a beginner level, but I remember one of the favorite songs I enjoyed learning and practicing was the hymn with these lyrics…

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
that calls me from a world of care,
and bids me at my Father’s throne
make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
my soul has often found relief,
and oft escaped the tempter’s snare
by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

I remember a peace washing over me like a waterfall everytime I played this song, not because of the melody, but because of the relieving message.

Also when I was younger, I taught Sunday School, and I told my students that prayer is simply talking to God. As I have matured in my faith, I have switched one word in this simple definition.

Prayer is talking with God.

My enlightenment came when I read Exodus 33:11 (NLT) which revealed…
[11] Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.

That verse let me know that true prayer hears God speak too. In fact the Holy Spirit showed me often conversations with God begin with Him calling us.

For example, 1 Samuel 3:8-11 (NLT) shares…
[8] So the LORD called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the LORD who was calling the boy. [9] So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. [10] And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” [11] Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel.

Notice Samuel didn’t recognize God’s voice at first, but once he did he stilled himself and listened.

Could it be that in our seasons of distress and grief, the LORD is calling us to a sweet hour of prayer, and we just need to be still and listen. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Another famous moment of the LORD calling us before we recognize Him is found in Acts of the Apostles 9:3-6 (NLT), which reads…
[3] As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. [4] He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” [5] “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! [6] Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Could it also be we’re so misguided doing what we think God wants that we don’t recognize His voice when He calls us?

Here’s something the Holy Spirit just showed me, when in doubt who’s calling your name, just ask “who are you Lord?”.

God will reveal Himself to us, so that we will listen to His voice.

That statement triggers another source of relief, which is hearing God’s voice!

When we pray to God our motives must include…

• Being in His presence
• Hearing Him speak

You see prayer is a demonstration of faith that pleases God. Hebrews 11:6 (NLT) explains…
[6] And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

When we pray, we are seeking God’s engagement in our lives and specific situations. That reminds me of Jesus’ famous prayer in Luke 22:41-44 (NLT)…
[41] He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, [42] “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” [43] Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. [44] He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

Don’t miss the subtle interlude in verse 43. The Father answered Jesus’ prayer. God provided relief by renewing Jesus’ strength in the midst of His prayer.

Here’s what makes that a blessing to us. God may not change our situation or circumstances when we pray, but He will renew our strength to endure.

Searching scriptures for this week’s relief theme is showing me that one of God’s main relief responses is strength renewal.

That’s why the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)…
[6] Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Notice, Paul didn’t say God would fix things, he said that we would experience God’s unfathomable peace when we pray.

Peace isn’t the absence of a storm, it’s the absence of fear in it.

The LORD is saying He’s interested in speaking to our souls, not just our storms.

I also believe it’s the strength renewal that had the Holy Spirit inspire Gospel writer Luke to write Luke 5:16 NLT
[16] But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

If you look at the times Jesus went to pray, you will see they followed draining ministry or preceded a heavier load, with the a criminal’s excruciating death on the cross being the heaviest load of all.

I like how Hebrews 4:15-16 (NLT) synchronizes Jesus’ overcomer through prayer example
with us. It says…
[15] This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. [16] So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Do you see it, Jesus knows what we’re going through, and He has given us direct access to the Heavenly Father’s throne of grace, just like He had here on earth.

As a matter of fact, God goes a step further in Romans 8:26-27 (NLT), which reveals…
[26] And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. [27] And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

Wait, I just saw the key to sweet relief found in prayer, it’s praying for what God wants. No wonder prayer often begins with God calling us, because He wants to make His will and way known for us.

You see God wants us to depend ‘souly’ on Him. Thus we can echo Psalms 5:1-3 (NLT)…
[1] O LORD, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. [2] Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. [3] Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

You know what Psalmist was really doing here? Psalms 37:5 (NLT) answers…
[5] Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.

The Holy Spirit is winding today’s post down. Here are the last couple of items He wants me to leave us with…

Psalms 27:7-10 (NLT) models…
[7] Hear me as I pray, O LORD. Be merciful and answer me! [8] My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.” [9] Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! [10] Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.

There’s relief found in the presence of God who’s throne room’s door is opened with the door handle of prayer.

So today, let’s harmonize with Sister CeCe Winans, who sang…

I know that you think you can’t pray after that mistake
But I know it’s the only way you can make it better
And I know situations get too much for you to take
And you feel like you gon’ break
And it makes you say (woo)

I can’t take it (ooh)
When will things get better? (Woo)
I’m so frustrated
But it’s gonna be okay ’cause
(You) got someone in your corner
(Who’s) gonna be there for ya
Just fall on your knees
Say a prayer and receive

When the world feels like it’s on your shoulders
(I pray, you pray, we pray)
When your life seems like it’s upside down
(I pray, you pray, we pray)
When your lonely nights are getting colder
(I pray, you pray, we pray)
I pray, you pray (no matter how dark the day)
No matter how dark the day (all you have to do, do is pray, pray)

For soul relief, and strength renewal, answer God’s call to a sweet hour of prayer! 🤙🏾🙏🏾

Today’s song is…
When We Pray

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)