Psalm 83:1-18 NKJV
Asaph, on inspiration from the Holy Spirit, pleads with God not to be silent, not to hold His peace, and not to be still. He laments that God’s enemies are crafty, that they hate God, and have lifted up their heads against the Lord.
As you have heard a few times in these devotions, the psalms teach you how to pray; they give voice to the many concerns that you have as a Christian in this evil world. Through the psalms – and today’s is another good example – Asaph almost seems to be informing God of things He may not know about: the enemies are crafty, they consult together, they rally against Him. God most certainly knows all these things, for He is omniscient, and nothing ever surprises Him. And neither does He need you or anyone else to supposedly give Him information about anything.
But the psalms teach you to call out to God in all things – not, of course, for God’s sake, but for yours. Jesus Himself taught His disciples and you to pray in all circumstances. God knows that it is good for you to voice your concerns, grievances, and fears to Him, for prayer is the marvelous gift God gives to you to “let it all out” and cry to Him who is the only one that can and will hear you and answer according to His good and gracious will for your life. I John 5:14 says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” And in the Our Father, Jesus gave you the very words to use in prayer. Further, Luther teaches us that “I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us” (Small Catechism, Lord’s Prayer, Conclusion).
It is always right to ask God. It is always right to seek His counsel, and to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest His Word. He loves you in Christ and will hear and answer according to His will for you.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, help me to pray more fervently and in true faith to You for all my fears and needs. Amen.