Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 19 (David’s Secret Strength: Prayer! Part 2: “Begging & Pleading! Pleading & Begging!”)

By admin On February 13th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 19

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David’s Secret Strength: Prayer!

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Part 2:

“Begging & Pleading! Pleading & Begging!”

To read Part 1, go here…June 15th (David’s Secret Strength: Prayer!)

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“And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years,

which departed not from the temple,

but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”

Luke 2:37

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A certain caller to a Bible Question & Answer call-in talk show was indignant at the thought that God would require a New Covenant Christian to beg and plead for God’s mercy…“That’s Old Testament!”, protested the caller.

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announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public-Domain (2)

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“LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY!”

Luke 11:1

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The fact is, there are many sincere persons who wonder, “Just how should I pray?

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Should I always kneel?

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Or should I be standing?

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Should I recite, ‘The Lord’s Prayer’?

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Should I pray out loud?

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Or should I pray silently?

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Should I lift my hands up in the air?

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Or should I fold my hands together?

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And should I beg and plead?

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Or should I ask confidently?”

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Well, obviously, the Bible has the answer to every such question.

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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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“WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURE?”

Romans 4:3

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So let’s go to the Bible, to find out what it says about begging & pleading for God’s mercy and deliverance.

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Listen…“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

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Well right here we see that we are to come boldly to the throne of grace.

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So there we have it! Why even search any further? This is the New Testament attitude that every Believer should have!

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No begging and pleading called for here!

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Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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OLD TESTAMENT BEGGING & PLEADING

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But why then does the Old Testament have so many verses which call for crying out and pleading for mercy?

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Listen to the Old Testament…

“Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for Thy mercies’ sake.

For in death there is no remembrance of Thee:

in the grave who shall give Thee thanks?

I am weary with my groaning;

all the night make I my bed to swim;

I water my couch with my tears.”

Psalm 6:4-6

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From this passage we get the very opposite counsel. So, what’s going on here!?

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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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ALL SCRIPTURE! NOT JUST SOME!

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Maybe, just maybe the Old Testament was written for the Jews and NOT for Christians. Do you suppose?

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But listen to Paul…

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect,

thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

2nd Timothy 3:16, 17

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So Paul is revealing that ALL scripture, not just SOME scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, for instruction in righteousness.

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So then, why does the Bible seem to contradict itself?

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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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NEW TESTAMENT AGREES WITH OLD

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Is there anything from the New Testament that agrees and confirms these Old Testament admonitions regarding begging and pleading for God’s mercy?

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Well, actually there is!

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Listen…“Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God….

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep:

let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,

and He shall lift you up.”

James 4:4, 5, 8-10

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So here we have the answer to our dilemma. In the case of worldliness, James counsels us to “be afflicted, mourn and weep, let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness”.

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Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“A TIME TO WEEP & A TIME TO LAUGH”

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And so, there are different situations in this life for those who are seeking after God.

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As the Wise Man said in Ecclesiastes, “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance”…

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So here is seen that the Christian goes through varied circumstances which changes his or her stance toward God.

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**For the truly “Born Again” Christian, there will be many times when that Christian can speak joyfully to his or her Father, as a loving child.**

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David Playing Harp – www.thebiblerevival.com – US public domain

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“I GO MOURNING ALL THE DAY LONG”

Psalm 38:6

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But then, there may be other times when pain or grief is so great that all one can do is utter the words, “Have mercy, have mercy, have mercy!…”

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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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“RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH”

2nd Timothy 2:15

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Therefore, this little devotional hopefully gives a better understanding of how the Bible student must carefully and prayerfully strike a balance when studying God’s Word.

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Different situations call for different approaches to God.

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We must not make one passage the sum total of our understanding on any issue.

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**The entire Bible must be searched and “rightly divided”…**

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Listen…“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2nd Timothy 2:15

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 3, GO HERE…

July 21 (David’s Secret Strength: Prayer! Part 3: “Soaking In The Psalms!”)

David the Shepherd Boy – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me a fervent Spirit, that my Christian experience can have the same fervor that Christ had during His earthly sojourn…

David Playing Harp – www.thebiblerevival.com – US public domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS

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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…

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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!

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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!

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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.

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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.

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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)

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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and altered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS

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**Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.**

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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.

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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.

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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.

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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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TOMORROW:

April 20 (Jacob’s Trouble, Part 6: “Let The Old Man Live!?”)

Old Man – Max Handrick – Alter Lastenträger – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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90-MINUTE OPEN FORUM

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO LISTEN TO THIS 90-MINUTE OPEN FORUM

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Harold Camping December 1, 2009 on The Open Forum (youtube.com)

above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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