When We Pray

I am reminded of how David prayed such heartfelt prayers and I am thankful that he left behind his signature in the book of Psalms. For what other book is greater than the Psalms that gives us such confidence concerning prayer to God and shows us that when we spend time reaching out to God, that indeed it is that devotion to prayer that brings answers we long for.
David began some prayers in agony. At times he was overwhelmed with grief and fear. And yet in his prayers we always see the reflection of hope as he reminds himself of God's promises and encourages himself that God indeed will answer, even in seasons that He seems to be silent, if we wait, patiently, He will respond.
Sometimes I feel like David felt when he would lay out his petiton before God and yet feel that God was hidden. But one thing I honor about David, a man after God's own heart, is that he always let his fears, his joys, his doubts be known to his God. And I have been encouraged to do the same; to be honest with God about how I truly appraise things, even if I am wrong in how I see life or circumstances, being honest is one way that I know that I can be heard. God would rather we be honest with Him than to sugar-coat our prayers to Him.
Some of my favorite verses include the following from David, "Bend down and hear my prayer, O Lord, and answer me..." Ps. 86:1......"Listen Closely to my prayer."O Jehovah, God of my salvation, I have wept before you day and night. Now hear my prayers; oh listen to my cry..."Ps. 88:1.
David was never afraid to petition God for answers. He was never afraid to ask that God hear and listen and respond. He went bodly to God in prayer, believing that God would hear, and answer and would never cease to remind God of what He promised. Such boldness indeed lends proof that when we love God and are obidient we have nothing to fear when we need an answer.
From David's example, I know that I have this same priviledge of going to God in prayer. I am not afraid to ask God for my needs and also to remind God of His promises concerning me. David proved that you can go to God and lay out every thing before Him and to be confident that God is a tender Father who delights in restoring us. This is of great value to know, especially in times of despair, calamity, sorrow, suffering and fear. Yes, we can petition God. And God will hear. When we pray, let us consider David's prayer life and even the examples that he set forth through his Psalms. Psalms is a wonderful example of proof that we can be confident that God is ready and willing to hear us when we cry out to Him.