To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord. Genesis 4:26
Call on the Name of the Lord – Genesis 4:26, Psalm 71
At the beginning of this year, I started a chronological Bible reading plan with some friends and family. Genesis 4:26 jumped out at me. This feels like the beginning of prayer:
To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord. Genesis 4:26
When we call on the name of the Lord, we communicate with God and He communicates with us. The Bible is filled with examples of people calling on the name of the Lord. We can see so many types of prayer, especially in the Psalms. These prayers pour out emotions of all kinds to the Creator, affirm His character and power, rehearse His good deeds, and ask for help from Him.
Today we are going to take a look at one of those Psalms. Psalm 71 includes several examples of prayer within its verses.
Rock of Refuge
In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame!2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me, and save me!
3 Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. Psalm 71:1-4
The Lord is my rock of refuge. When I feel like I am in trouble, God is my rescuer. In prayer, we can run to our Rock of safety and protection.
My mouth is filled with Your praise
5 For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
you are he who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you.7 I have been as a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
and with your glory all the day. Psalm 71:5-8
We use times of prayer to praise God and stir up our faith. We remind ourselves who God is to us. We pray throughout the day, remembering that He is worthy of our praise.
Make haste to help me!
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength is spent.10 For my enemies speak concerning me;
those who watch for my life consult together11 and say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue and seize him,
for there is none to deliver him.”12 O God, be not far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me!
13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
who seek my hurt.14 But I will hope continually
and will praise you yet more and more. Psalm 71:9-14
We ask God to be with us and help us in times of need. He is always listening. Our hope is well-placed in our faithful and trustworthy God. Prayer is when we can and should bring our requests and needs to the One who has the solutions. He is powerful enough to help us!
Rehearse and Remember
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is past my knowledge.16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.18 So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.
19 Your righteousness, O God,
reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you?20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
you will bring me up again. Psalm 71:15-20
We can use our prayer time to rehearse and remember what God has already done for us. There is no one like God. He has blessed us over and over again. He has helped us and restored us many times, and if He has done it in the past, He can do it again. Our faith grows through this type of prayer.
Shout for joy
21 You will increase my greatness
and comfort me again.22 I will also praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.23 My lips will shout for joy,
when I sing praises to you;
my soul also, which you have redeemed.24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
who sought to do me hurt. Psalm 71:21-24
I love all the times verses 21-24 uses the word “will”. “Will” indicates an act of choice. We choose to sing praises. We choose to shout for joy. Even in times of need or when we are overwhelmed or discouraged, we can engage our will and intentionally choose to praise anyway. We can choose joy in spite of our circumstances. We can speak of the goodness and righteousness of God all day, everyday.
Action Step:
Which aspect of prayer tugged at your heart today? Are you challenged by one of more of them? Draw close to God in several ways before the day is out. Call on the name of the Lord! Finish up with some joy and praise. He is still worthy, no matter what else is going on. 🙂
Let us know in the Facebook group or on Instagram some of your prayers or praises from this week! Post those pics under Lent for God’s Love Week 5 or post on Instagram and tag me @devoinaction!
Prayer:
Dear God, we want to feel your protection as our rock of refuge. Help us to draw close to You in prayer. Bring us joy in You right in the middle of our trials or problems. Give us courage to discuss all our emotions and needs with You. You always listen to us and have so much wisdom when we don’t. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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