“Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation” (1-3). “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield” (11-12). (Psalm 5:1-3 & 11-12 NIV)
When we awake from our night’s rest, the Lord is listening. He is already attentive to us and our supplications. The Psalmist implies that God expects to hear our prayers. We certainly expect him to listen and consider our “sighing.”
In faith, we lift our voices in prayer. Like children before a father, we confidently “lay our requests” in his hands. And like children, we excitedly anticipate his positive response.
The skeptics would ridicule us, but we “take refuge” in Christ and are glad. The skeptics, agnostics, and atheists wail over the economy and their circumstances, but we “sing for joy” in every situation because our King – our God – listens to our cry for help. We love him and rejoice in his favor!
We talk with the Lord every morning because we are confident that He blesses the righteous. Even though good and bad both occur equally upon all humanity, his favor stands between us and the destructive, disastrous effects of the bad. Understood rightly, his shield of favor restricts the bad that happens and multiplies the good in the lives of those who love him.
God’s protective favor! What a marvelous benefit to those who love his name! Is it any wonder that we rejoice in him and talk with him first thing every morning?
Dear Father, thank you for your favor and protective grace. Empower us with the confidence of your attentive favor. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in God’s favor,