The Posture of Prayer

Psalm 123 CSB

A song of ascents. 1 I lift my eyes to you, the one enthroned in heaven. 2 Like a servant’s eyes on his master’s hand, like a servant girl’s eyes on her mistress’s hand, so our eyes are on the Lord our God until he shows us favor. 3 Show us favor, Lord, show us favor, for we’ve had more than enough contempt. 4 We’ve had more than enough scorn from the arrogant and contempt from the proud.

INTRODUCTION

How honored and excited I am to be here with them today/this week.

Africa is somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit but never had the opportunity—until now.

God has done amazing things at Taylor Road over the last year, particularly.

In April 2021, we made a change — Wednesday nights — House of Prayer // Thursday mornings at 6am.

A song of ascent — something they would sing while ascending the steps of the temple.

Positioning ourselves in prayer.

Outline

Eyes Lifted (Worship/Adoration)

Eyes not primarily fixed on my “need” or my situation or even myself.

Isn’t this how Jesus taught his disciples to pray? His “model prayer” began God-centered.

“Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done.”

Too often, I think we come to God in prayer with a list of wants/needs, dump them on him, and then move on.

This isn’t to say that God doesn’t want to hear our requests but he wants US to have proper perspective.

Why?

Because the end goal of prayer is not to get more FROM God but to get God himself.

Illustration — when I get home at the end of the week, I know my 3 kids are going to be excited to see me. I know one of the first things they’re going to ask is — “Daddy, what did you bring me?” Let me tell you what my heart wants to hear, though. “Daddy, you’re home. I’m so glad you’re here.”

Do you see the difference? It doesn’t make me love my children any different. But it expresses where their love is.

The one “enthroned.”

He is immovable. He is all powerful. He is wrapped in glory.

What does the Bible say about the “enthronement” of God?

It’s this imagery of God being “above” all things. God is in the heavens. We are on earth. He sits on the throne of authority. He makes decrees. He issues justice.

THIS is the God to whom we pray.

The Psalmist tells us that the way in which we approach God begins in worship/adoration…and that naturally leads us to...

2. Dependence (vs. 2)

Humility

Servant/Master relationship

He has the resources. He is able.

3. Expectation

Persistence (until he shows us favor).

The persistent widow.

At Taylor Road, our philosophy of prayer is that we are going to knock and knock and knock until God answers and then we’re not going to stop knocking.