Day 140 – Prayer

Psalm 41:1 (To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.) Blessed is he who considers the poor; JEHOVAH will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 JEHOVAH will preserve him and keep him alive, and he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. 3 JEHOVAH will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed. 4 I said, “JEHOVAH, be merciful to me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”

 5 My enemies speak evil of me: “When will he die, and his name perish?” 6 If he comes to see me, he speaks lies; his heart gathers iniquity to itself; when he goes out, he tells it. 7 Those who hate me whisper together against me; against me they devise my hurt. 8 “An evil disease,” say they, “clings to him. When he lies down, he will rise no more.” 9 Even my familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, lifted his heel against me. 10 However, You, O JEHOVAH, be merciful to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them. 11 By this I know You are well pleased with me, because my enemy does not triumph over me. 12 As for me, You uphold me in my integrity and set me before Your face forever. 13 Blessed be JEHOVAH Elohiym of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Deliverer

Preserver

Merciful

Healer

Do you know who your friends are? How well can you trust them? When you’re not with them, what do they say about you?

David had more enemies than he did friends. Even among his friends, he had enemies. David could only trust one person—JEHOVAH. He took his concerns to Him and asked Him to heal his soul because he knew he sinned against Him. He asked JEHOVAH for mercy and for his enemies not to triumph over him.

When you’re sick, when your friends turn against you, who do you turn to? Do you turn to Yeshuwa to come to your defense? Do you ask for the life of your enemies? Do you confess your sins? Do you make a defense for yourself? Do you plead your cause, or do you expect Yeshuwa to help you without confessing your sins?

Many Christians cut to the chase when they pray. They ask Yeshuwa to heal them, help them find employment, pray for the salvation of family members and friends, but they leave out the most important part of prayer—FORGIVENESS for themselves and PRAISE to Yeshuwa.

David knew he sinned. When he prayed for help, he confessed his sin before he asked for the life of his enemies.

When JEHOVAH gave the Law to Moses, He told Moses the priests were to confess their sins before they prayed for the sins of the people. Only then could they come before Him with their requests for help against their enemies.

Your enemy is Satan. He will cause you to forget to praise Yeshuwa or confess your sins to Him. Many Christians bring a laundry list of requirements they want Yeshuwa to meet. Then they get off their knees and go on their way, not realizing Yeshuwa will not answer their prayers because they didn’t confess their sins or give Him praise.

When Yeshuwa gave the people the model prayer, He said: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. He first acknowledged His Father.

David acknowledged JEHOVAH and what He could do for people. He then confessed his sin because he knew he was a sinner. Then he asked for JEHOVAH to come against his enemies.

Christians are hung up with what they call rituals in the church. They want the freedom to come before Yeshuwa how they want, not in a prescribed manner. I agree, there are some rituals that need to be done away with, but not the rituals Yeshuwa ordained when it comes to prayer.

If you want your prayers answered, and we all do, you need to follow the pattern for answered prayer: Praise. Confession. Needs. You can’t skip to the third part before the first two.

Let’s pray: Father, I give You praise for who You are: holy, righteous, my deliverer, my Savior. You alone are exalted in the earth, in heaven, and in my heart. I give You praise because You made me, called me by name before the creation of the world, and keep my feet on the narrow path. You forgive me when I confess my sin, and You bring me back into a right standing with You. I praise You. When I want to skip praise and confession when I come before You, remind me. Give me Your heart when I pray, and let my praise always come before You. I acknowledge I am a sinner. Forgive me and bless me because I love You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 7 June 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux