Today's Verse: Psalm 4:1

Thursday, April 1, 2004

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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
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Thoughts on Today's Verse...

At first, this cry for help seems very demanding of us on God. Closer inspection shows that this is really a cry of desperation. Have you been there? I surely have, and I regularly hear from folks who are there now. But, dear friend in Jesus, read how this Psalm ends! What is the secret to surviving a long agony? I believe three things are important:
  1. Honesty in our prayer life with God.
  2. Confidence that God hears and cares even when our prayers sizzle with pain and frustration.
  3. Genuine praise for God that is included in our prayers even when things seem bleak and God feels distant.
Such an approach to prayer is not a magical formula but a Spirit-inspired one - check it out in Psalm 4!

My Prayer...

O God, please hear my cry for relief and the relief of those I love who are in agony from their burdens and suffering. Please answer in amazing and miraculous ways so that we may not only be relieved, but you may be glorified by those who see you working in the lives of ordinary but desperate people. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

2 Related Resources by Heartlight

Hear My Prayer
Illustration of Psalm 4:1
Inspirational illustration of Psalm 4:1 -- 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.
Calm Down
Article by Alan Smith
Feeling a little stressed? Try this... Sometimes we need a little admonition to calm our souls, even if it is self-administered.

Illustration

Illustration of Psalm 4:1 — 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.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, April 1, 2004

Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Yielded to Righteousness' (Ro. 6:19-23)
"Dear Father, Master of my life, As I once yielded my members to impurity and greater and greater iniquity, so now I yield them to you for..."
What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'See for Yourself!' (Jn. 1:43-46)
"The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Come, follow me." Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter's..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Luke 2:19
"There was an exercise, on the part of this blessed woman, of three powers of her being: her memory-she kept all these things; her affections-she kept...."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Let the Light Shine!'
"Dear Disciple, While I was in the world, I was the "Light of the world" (John 9:5). I AM still the Light of the world (John 1:4-5; John 8:12), but..."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

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