January 6, 2010

ASK FOR ALL THINGS IN ALL WAYS

Key Verse

"Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer." (Psalm 4:1)

Read More READ THE CHAPTER

Central Truth

When we seek God's provision, we must seek it boldly and expect results...regardless of the scars we wear from a sin-wrecked life.

Reflections

"Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God." (Psalm 4:1) This is how David, the author of Psalm 4, begins this song of expression...this outpouring of extreme confidence that God will answer when he boldly calls. My neck prickles when I read these words. The words feel curt and assuming. The protection David seeks feels "questionable" (after some of the sins David has committed). Am I contemplating my own sins here, perhaps...more than David's, a man after God's heart?

The words, I believe, prickle because I can picture me casting them at my children. I am standing in a tizzy at the bottom of the stairs, looking at the same pile of toys that for the third time today my dumpling-darlings have managed to avoid picking up. My daughter is cringing on the landing (because "they're mostly my brother's toys"), and my son is hiding in his tepee (because "invisible boys can't pick up toys"). But if I look to the left, three pairs of shoes sit. My shoes. I have failed (again) to escort them to the closet. And there are my books. (Double oops.) Should I so confidently be using this tone with my children? Should David so confidently be using this tone with God...especially after the whole Bathsheba incident? Will I ever stop linking David only to Bathsheba?

You see, when I think of my life (or David's life), I see the sin. I know Jesus paid the price for us to be washed clean and that clinging to sins forgiven diminishes the price paid. I am aware that we should boldly ask for what we need (in David's case, he is asking for protection and relief from distress). I am aware that we should expect God to show up IN A BIG WAY...especially when our heart is repentant in the asking.  God is merciful. So what am I cringing about?

Dear friend, ask for all things in all ways. God will not cringe from an honest request. He actually honors our confidence to ask boldly, seeing the level of our faith instead of our sin.

Discussion Questions

1. When was the last time you asked for something that you knew you did not deserve? Did you ask for it meekly or did you ask for it with confidence? How should you have asked for it? Why?

2. Should we hold on to the memory of our sins? Does it seem sometimes that the memory of our particular sins is stronger than our understanding that we have been washed clean of these sins?

Comments

The views expressed under “Comments” are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Hill Country Bible Church NW.

  1. randy

    January 5, 2010 10:10 PM

    He hears me when I call... Thank You Father for hearing me when I call, and for knowing my name! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkw3a4raWfg

  2. Chip Smith

    January 6, 2010 05:33 AM

    Good morning Nancy: Your journey log this morning reminded me of Hebrews 10:19 and my position in Christ. I so easily slip back into a lack of confidence in approaching God where my focus is on what I have done rather than on what Christ has done for me. Your phrase, "clinging to sins forgiven diminishes the price paid," really convicted me. The price that Jesus paid was enormous so that I could be forgiven and able to boldly go into the Holy of Holies (God's presence) and petition Him for victory in my life. I since the glee of Satan when I listen to his reminders of my sinful past and cringe away from entering into God’s presence. Because of your log, I am resolute to no longer diminish the forgiveness I have through the shed blood of Jesus. Thank you!

  3. Stacey

    January 6, 2010 06:22 AM

    Thank you, Nancey Jean! And the truth will set us free! Thank you for revealing how rumenating on past sins is dishonoring to God. What joy there is in living in forgiveness!

  4. David

    January 6, 2010 06:28 AM

    Your insight here is a great reminder to match the boldness of my requests with my heart's tenacious belief. It's like a friend told me recently, "Mostly it's all in our head. We just need to get over ourselves, and get out of the way." I need to let go of my self and let God do what he wants to do ... with me and through me.

  5. Darryl Worsham

    January 6, 2010 08:07 AM

    Nancy Jean, the transforming power of Christ is evident in your testimony and it is highlighted even more in your honest and real approach to this passage of scripture. Thank you for demonstrating boldness to us. Grace and Peace - Darryl

  6. Wayne Schomaker

    January 6, 2010 09:10 AM

    Nancy Jean, Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Psalm with us. I appreciate how you personalized the passage to your life and drew application for yourself from it. I need be sure that I am always going beyond "hearing" what God says to me in His word and actually "doing" what He says to me in His word. God used you to remind me of that when I read your devotional this morning. Have a Blessed day! ~ Wayne

  7. Bob A. King

    January 6, 2010 09:32 AM

    Your sensitive observations and applications of divine truth, accompanied by your enjoyable writing style and humorous comments made this Psalm come alive. Ever considered writing a devotional book? Thank you for encouraging and inspiring all of us.

  8. Randy Allen

    January 6, 2010 09:33 AM

    Thank you. Funny. I just meditated on this verse last week. Good job.

  9. Judy Lavery

    January 6, 2010 09:42 AM

    Nancy jean--I love this devotional. Thanks for sharing your testimony. Your story about telling your kids to clean up when you haven't cleaned up your shoes reminds me to be patient and understanding with my children, as God is with me.

  10. Joy Covell

    January 6, 2010 01:03 PM

    Our scars remind us, people may remind us, Satan may try to torture us with our repented sins, but aren't we blessed with God's ability to see the level of our faith instead of our sin!Well put Nancy; I too think you have a gift with words.Thank you for sharing.

  11. Nancy jean

    January 6, 2010 01:33 PM

    Thank you all for your comments. It is good to know that others can realte to something you have felt. It is nice to feel that God has used our words in some small way to reach others. I love reading the devotionals people write for Join the Journey. I look forward to seeing each day what God has to say to me through everyday people. God bless us all. Thank you, Lord, for breathing life into each one of us.

Leave a Comment

Sign Up to Join the Journey
Nancy Jean Okunami

Nancy Jean Okunami

My name is Nancy jean Okunami. I have been a Christian for eight years. My knees locked before God when an adoption fell through and a baby boy was taken from my arms in '99. It was when God placed a baby girl in my arms, in '01, that my knees gave way and I fell to the ground in complete surrender. God met me in my pain and showed me the difference between standing in defiance and kneeling in grace. Hubby (Al) and I now have a Chloe (age 8) AND a Joey (age 4). Thank you, Lord.