The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. (Psalm 19:1-4)
Looking away from our surroundings and toward God is one of the best things we can do to overcome depression, worry, tension, and any other difficult emotion. When we pray to the Father at difficult moments in our lives, our requests are frequently motivated by what we want God to do for us. While this is not incorrect, it also doesn’t necessarily advance our cause. God wants us to share everything with Him, including our requests, but He also doesn't want the situation for which we are praying to paralyze our emotions and spirituality.
Prayer does not alter God, but it does alter us. God has not changed; He has always been the same. Our Father loves us immensely and wants us to feel His love in real, concrete ways every day. The goal of prayer is to link us to God. If the focus of our prayers is on what God hasn't already accomplished, we risk missing His presence, provision, and glory precisely where we are right now. Is God ever out of reach? Does He ever stop working and observing? Is He ever not there for and with His children? Obviously not! When we pray, we must keep in mind who He is, not merely what we want Him to do, and praise and thank Him for this. We must seek His face, not just His hands.
The skies, according to Psalm 19, “proclaim God’s work in every place and in every language.” The sun, moon, and celestial bodies illuminate the sky to reveal the splendor of their Creator. Then how much more ought His offspring to follow suit? God is still wonderful and deserving of all praise and glory, no matter where you are or what you are going through. May our prayers be as gloriously Christ-centered as this one.
“O Father of Jesus, Thou knowest that I love thee supremely, for thou art supremely adorable, good, perfect. My heart melts at the love of Jesus, my brother, bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, married to me, dead for me, risen for me; He is mine and I am His, given to me as well as for me; I am never so much mine as when I am His, or so much lost to myself until lost in Him; then I find my true manhood.” (Taken from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions)
Prayer: Holy Father, I exalt You as the One seated in the heavens above everything. You are the one and only true God, and You are the source of all life, tranquility, and joy. God, I want You and I need You. I desire to have a deeper relationship with You, a greater level of faith in You, and a life that exalts You even more than the heavens. In the name of Jesus, Amen!
