Getting Real with God – Part 1

In desperation, David cried out, “Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications” (Psalm 130:2, NKJV). This sounds to me like the plea of a dying man. David obviously wasn’t just uttering “thought prayers.” He was face down on the ground, broken, contrite, pleading from the very depths of his heart, “O holy God Jehovah, you must hear my cry! I can’t go on any longer. My sin is ever before me, and I’m sinking with fear and dread. Please, God, have mercy on me.”

David knew his soul needed a release, and he turned to God alone to find that release. He concluded, “I’m in such a dire condition, only the Lord can help me now. I can’t rely on counselors, friends, even family. My only hope is in prayer, so I’m going to cry out night and day until God hears my plea.”

Have you ever been as desperate as David was? Have you shut yourself in with the Lord, falling on your face and crying out to him? Dull, quiet, lazy praying won’t accomplish anything. If you’re not unburdening your soul to God, you don’t really want healing; you want out of discomfort or guilt. David testified, “I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart” (Psalm 38:8-9). You have to cry out, as David did, “Lord, hear my plea! I’m not letting go of you until you answer!”

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry” (Psalm 34:15). “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18). His eyes are upon us…his ears are open…he is near…he saves us!

We can pour our hearts out to God with complete abandon. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Call on him. He is listening eagerly for your voice.