David. A notable person of prayer?
The idea sounds like an oxymoron. Yet, the more we think about it, we can understand how this is possible.
What often comes to mind when we hear the name “David” are the more colorful details of his past. A puny boy ignored by his father, yet hand-picked by God. A shepherd who kills wild animals bare-handed. Goliath & the stone. Escaping from multiple murder attempts by Saul. Nabal. Bathsheba. Absalom…
One who repented.
This is the reason why David was able to commune with God the way he did. David understood his status as a forgiven child of God and knew that the grace and mercy of God, though unbalanced to humans, was fair.
Our pasts are littered with their own collection of colorful moments. The enemy loves to highlight our ugly at the most inconvenient moments. This causes us to forget that the God who thoroughly forgave David also forgives us thoroughly as well.
When we feel unworthy, we sometimes feel that we cannot ask God for too much. We pray as though His grace is pre-packaged according to what we’ve earned throughout our lives. We pray for what we believe are the ‘easy-to-answer’ prayers. Perhaps we might find it easier to intercede for others, willingly praying great things on their behalf, yet neglect to pray as willingly for ourselves.
Lord, forgive us for discounting ourselves without Your permission. Forgive us for self-regulating our prayers hoping that it might improve our chances of Your approval. Help us to remember our status as children forgiven by a loving God. Guide us when we’re tempted to feel inadequate before You because You do not see us as inadequate. Help us, Lord, so that we can walk more closely with You each day. We pray in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
