Prayer: Where It All Begins

Psalm 3 KJV 1900

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. 1 Lord, How are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; My glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, And he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, That have set themselves against me round about. 7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: For thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: Thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

Introduction:

Transition: As we breakdown the scriptures today lets take a look at what prayer does. Prayer allows you to...

Recognize- Prayer forces us to be aware of what is going on in our life.

David recognized his present state-

running for his life again

gives a little background on the situation with Absolom

David recognized he was vulnerable- many are they 2x

All but a few hundred in the Kingdom had turned on him

He felt alone, defenseless. Had nowhere to turn

Nothing he could do would be right

Family and friends were against him

From every corner there was opposition!

The voice of that opposition was louder, meaner, frightening.

The voices were like an angry dog with teeth bared and a deep guttural growl that can make even the bravest and strongest of men freeze from fear

These voices make you feel weak, they make you feel alone

There will always be antagonists, or adversaries in your life. David recognized this in the situation he was in

David recognized his need for humility- Pride is the downfall of man

D

He knew he couldn’t go through this alone

Even with the people around him he knew he needed to humble himself and call out to God.

Prayer makes us recognize the need for strength that can only come from Him. It helps us to recognize our weaknesses.

David never tried to do it on his own. He knew he couldn’t!

When your adversary, your antagonist is screaming in your ear, when they are baring their teeth at you, when the whole world is coming down on you, it’s time to stop and recognize your current state/situation, just as David did, recognize that you are vulnerable and recognize you need to humble yourself before the Lord and His power, His guidance, His strength, His Love.

Prayer is a process that begins with recognition, but prayer also allows us to...

Prayer is a process that begins with recognition, but prayer also allows us to...

Remember- Prayer allows us to remember who God is and what He has done.

David remembered the characteristics of God

Shield

glory= wealth, most valued, reward, but even more it was a title that was used for God. David is saying you are my God, my glory!

one who lifts up my head- the one who raises me out of the pits and valleys. One who comforts. But also restoration. David was the king. He knew God could restore him back to the throne.

For you it would do you well to remember who God is. Is he your shield? Is he your glory? He can be the one who restores you and prayer allows us to remember His characteristics

David remembered the power of God

avid remembered the power of God

David remembered the power of God

Vs 5 says that David laid down and slept

anyone who has ever been through a stressful night knows how hard is is to fall asleep. Your mind continues to race, you try to shut it off but you cant. You try to close your eyes but all you can see is the exact thing that you are trying to forget. You try to sleep but to no avail. Sleep just won’t come!

David’s son is coming to take over and kill Him and David says “I lay down and slept”.

There is only one way to rest when something that terrible is happening in your life…Remember the power of God!

He has ultimate power to defeat your enemies

He has ultimate power to give you peace when the water is coming in the boat

He has the ultimate power to refresh and renew a spirit that has been broken and bruised, hurt and trampled by negative people in your life.

David said “I awoke, for the Lord sustained me”

This word sustained literally means to prop up on, or to lean on.

David leaned on God. He remembered the days of running for his life from Saul. David’s trust wasn’t in the people that were with him. David’s trust wasn’t in himself. David’s trust was in God and that trust was what David leaned on and what allowed him to rest easy and sleep on a night that most people wouldn’t!

Lean on God and in His mighty power!

David remembered the promises of God

In vs 6 David says “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around

God tells us in His word “I will never leave you nor forsake you”.

God also tells us in “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”

Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

David remembered how God loved him and cared for him. He remembered the promises that God made to Him and therefore had the courage to stand a say I will not fear anything that this world can do to me!

Transition: So prayer allows us to recognize, it allows us to remember, and finally prayer allows us to have...

Transition: So prayer allows us to recognize, it allows us to remember, and finally prayer allows us to have...

Confidence- David could only do what he did because he had confidence in who he was talking to.

David had confidence God was listening-

Vs 5 “I cried…and He heard me”

What a great feeling, that give us to know that God is listening!

From His place in Heaven, God hears the prayers of His children from Earth.

We should have that same confidence as David. He is the same God who heard David, He is the same God who hears our cries

So when we have the confidence that God is listening, we see the last thing that prayer allows and that is...

David had the confidence to ask God for action

“Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God!”

You have the confidence to ask God to take action on your behalf

You are humbled enough to know that He is capable, He is listening, He cares and He is willing to fight for you!

The last verse “Salvation belongeth to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people”. Belongs was added in by the translators to allow it to make sense to the English reader.

David was so confident in His God that he says this “ God you bring salvation, your’s is the victory, you are the deliverer and because you are who you are, the blessing or the gift is to your people”!

That my friends is confidence.

Conclusion: That is what prayer can do in your life. Prayer can take you from the pit to the pinnacle. Prayer can take you from desperation to determination. It can take you from ruin to revival. All you have to do is recognize where you are, remember the God that loves you, and have the confidence to call on His name. Revival doesn’t start in a country, a state, a county, a city, or even a church. Revival starts in you, and it starts with prayer!