A prayer in the cave...
"A prayer when he [David] was in the cave." -Psalm 142:1
I would like to share a simple thought about this title of Psalm 142, but before sharing mine, I would like to quote the late, great preacher Charles Spurgeon:
"David did pray when he was in the cave. If he had prayed half as much when he was in the palace as he did when he was in the cave, things would have been better for him. But, alas, when he was king, we find him rising from his bed in the evening, looking from the roof of his house, and falling into temptation. If he had been looking up to heaven, if his heart had been in communion with God, he might never have committed that great crime that has so deeply stained his whole character."
(-C.H. Spurgeon, 'Spurgeon on Prayer & Spiritual Warfare', p.101)
I wonder how often this is the case for us as we live our lives? What would the percentage look like in your life and in mine if we were to compare the times we go to the Lord in prayer when situations are dark versus the times when situations are bright? If I were honestly assessing my own life, I would say that although I pray daily thanking the Lord for certain things, my more fervent and intentional praying is done during times of despair. I would imagine the majority of Christians, if not all, pray most in the 'caves' of life rather than in life's 'palaces.'
Is this true of you, reader?
Perhaps if this were equalized, or in some cases even reversed, maybe we would avoid what Spurgeon points out about David: "...had he prayed half as much when he was in the palace as he did when he was in the cave, things would have been better for him."
We must prioritize prayer in our lives, during the great times, the worst times, and even the mundane times to be nearest to God at all times.
It is as the late man of God R.C. Sproul so precisely stated: "Prayer is the secret to holiness."
How is the prayer prioritized in your life? We must be a people of regular, intentional prayer!
I would like to share a simple thought about this title of Psalm 142, but before sharing mine, I would like to quote the late, great preacher Charles Spurgeon:
"David did pray when he was in the cave. If he had prayed half as much when he was in the palace as he did when he was in the cave, things would have been better for him. But, alas, when he was king, we find him rising from his bed in the evening, looking from the roof of his house, and falling into temptation. If he had been looking up to heaven, if his heart had been in communion with God, he might never have committed that great crime that has so deeply stained his whole character."
(-C.H. Spurgeon, 'Spurgeon on Prayer & Spiritual Warfare', p.101)
I wonder how often this is the case for us as we live our lives? What would the percentage look like in your life and in mine if we were to compare the times we go to the Lord in prayer when situations are dark versus the times when situations are bright? If I were honestly assessing my own life, I would say that although I pray daily thanking the Lord for certain things, my more fervent and intentional praying is done during times of despair. I would imagine the majority of Christians, if not all, pray most in the 'caves' of life rather than in life's 'palaces.'
Is this true of you, reader?
Perhaps if this were equalized, or in some cases even reversed, maybe we would avoid what Spurgeon points out about David: "...had he prayed half as much when he was in the palace as he did when he was in the cave, things would have been better for him."
We must prioritize prayer in our lives, during the great times, the worst times, and even the mundane times to be nearest to God at all times.
It is as the late man of God R.C. Sproul so precisely stated: "Prayer is the secret to holiness."
How is the prayer prioritized in your life? We must be a people of regular, intentional prayer!
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