How Many Things Can You Ask God To Do?

Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.   (Psalm 86:1)

“Hear, O Lord, and answer me.” So begins a psalm of requests. David is not afraid to ask.  He knows His God is a welcoming God and he knows that he cannot live a Godly life without supernatural help. So he asks …

If you too want to live for Jesus, going against the flow of culture, saying “no” to self and “yes” to God, then you too are in need of supernatural help.  Here is a psalm for you! I find at least twelve urgent requests in this psalm. Can God handle such a barrage from me? I can remember as a dad when a child would come to me with a bombardment of requests … “Hang on!” I would say. “One thing at a time!”  Sometimes the whole tribe would send their salvos my way and I would lose my cool.  Can God handle all the poured-out heart needs of all His children?

David is sure that He can: “In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me” (v.7) Take some time over this psalm and see for yourself.  David is not praying for fur coats and fancy cars.  He is asking for things of the spirit, for deep help in deep things. Look: “Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.” “Have mercy on me …” “Bring joy to your servant …” “Hear my prayer …” “Listen to my cry for mercy …” “Teach me your way …” “Give me an undivided heart …” “Turn to me and have mercy on me …” “Grant your strength to your servant …” “Save the son of your maidservant …” “Give me a sign of your goodness …”

Phew! You cannot assault God like that unless you know that God is a good, welcoming, helping God; unless you know that “… great is thy mercy toward me … thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.” (v.13 KJV). And if Old Testament David knew that, how much more can New Testament you know that? Jesus welcomes us to be relentless before the Throne of Grace (see Luke 18:1-8) because He knows that the Christian life is otherwise impossible.  I want to live all out for Jesus.  But I cannot. To many forces, within and without are pitted against me. But I have a willing God who welcomes me to blitz Him with my deep, desperate soul needs. He can handle them, more than that, the Bible gives us every encouragement to believe that He welcomes them. What a God!

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. Luke 18:1 ESV