Sincerity in Prayer (2)

 

Psalm 63:1-7

 

We had started talking about being honest and sincere when we pray to God.

These days we are working on our income tax returns. Let me tell you story about that. An honest letter of confession was sent to the Internal Revenue Service. It stated,

“Dear Sirs:

I can not sleep. Last year, when I filed my income tax return, I deliberately misrepresented my income. Now I cannot sleep. Enclosed is a check for $150 for taxes. If I still cannot sleep, I will send you the rest!”

 

This moves me to my second point: When we pray we open our hearts to God. We come to Him as we are.

 

Let me give two examples from the Psalms:

We read in Psalm 55: 6, 7                                                                                                    “I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
       I would fly away and be at rest-                                                                                     I would flee far away
       and stay in the desert.”


David, the man of courage and faith, the man who wrote all these psalms of encouragement and praise, the man who wrote prayers for salvation and healing, the same man is saying, “Let me have wings so I can fly; I like to flee at rest in the desert.”

Are there days when you feel this way?

Are there days when your energy level is down?

Open your heart to God. Pray in an honest, sincere way telling God whatever is on your heart.

 

Same David surrenders to God and tells him (Psalm 139:1-4)                                             “O LORD, you have searched me
       and you know me.                                                                                                     You know when I sit and when I rise;
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.                                                     You discern my going out and my lying down;
       you are familiar with all my ways.                                                    Before a word is on my tongue
       you know it completely, O LORD.”

 

Isn’t it comforting that God knows us very well? He knows our frustrations, our joys, our ups and downs. Bring yourself to God. Start praying from the place where you are not and not from the place you ought to (should) be.

 

When Adam and Eve were created, they were naked. They did not hide anything from each other and from God. After sin came in, they were exposed and they started hiding from God. Sin destroys; sin divides; sin separates us from each other and God. Because we are sinners, we are tempted to pray “hiding” from each other and from God. It is not healthy.

 

Let us move to the last point:

Our sincere prayer should lead us to confess and bring a change into our lives.

We read in Psalm 32:3,5

“When I kept silent, (chekhosdovanetsa- did not confess)
       my bones wasted away
       through my groaning all day long.

    5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
       and did not cover up my iniquity.
       I said, "I will confess
       my transgressions to the LORD "—
       and you forgave
       the guilt of my sin.”

When we confess, we restore our relationship with God.  That changes everything. We change, attitudes change, our perspectives change, out relationships change. This is the Lent season. It is time of confession and forgiveness. You have to take the initiative in doing this. This morning I am asking you to commit to a life of prayer- praying in an honest and sincere way, praying with broken hearts ready for change.

Last Thursday at Bible Study, we were discussing about two characters: Lydia, the strong businesswoman and the Roman Jailer who was keeping Paul and Silas in jail. Paul and Silas were evangelizing Philippi. Lydia was one of the first women who accepted Christianity, and because of her new commitment, she invited Paul and Silas to her home. Her household heard the Good News, they also became Christian. Then Paul and Silas were put in jail. They were singing and praying in jail. When God rescued them from jail, this jailer was afraid that the authorities would kill him because he did not do his job well. He was ready to kill himself. Paul interfered and stopped him from harming himself. Then this man saw the light and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30)

The answer is very simple yet very deep. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household" (vs 31). He did and he was baptized- he and his children and his household.

I would like to relate this message to what happened this morning: the baptism of Tanya and Lucas. Today Tanya, Lucas and Stephen are making the same announcement: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

Paul and Silas were in prayer when all this happened. It was a prayer that caused so much change.

Where are you today? Do not postpone the decision of believing in him. This season is the season of Lent. Come to Jesus with a broken heart, in confession, with sincerity.

 

Amen