When Prayer Really Counts

Read Psalms 107:1-43.

The prayer of the wanderer. It is axiomatic that, given enough trouble, pressure, or danger, people pray. Psalm 107 profiles prayer-producing situations and the results that accrue when true prayer goes heavenward. The chronic loneliness of the human spirit has no cure apart from God. *They wandered... they found no city to dwell in... their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the Lord* (Ps. 107:4-6). Note the twofold answer to this prayer: it involves being led in the right way and it provides a heavenly destination—a city of habitation!

The prayer of the willful. *They rebelled against the words of God and [despised] the counsel of the Most High* (Ps. 107:11). When willful people repent, God mercifully brings them out of darkness, breaks their chains, and frees them to obey His will. The truth about insisting on your own way is that you become enslaved to it; the truth about yielding to God*s way is that you are set free to live for Him!

The prayer of the worthless. *Fools because of their transgression... are afflicted... Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble* (Ps. 107:17, 19). There is some comfort in the fact that God even hears the prayers of those who lack the common sense to stay out of trouble! Perhaps that statement includes more of us than we would like to admit. The answer to a scatterbrained person*s prayer is not more advice, but a generous helping of God*s Word (v. 20), the application of that Word by the Holy Spirit, and the continuing miracle of Christ being *made unto us wisdom* (1 Cor. 1:30).

If you pay attention to these things, wrote the psalmist, you will understand the loving-kindness of the Lord (Ps. 107:43). The principle involved here is this: God answers prayer by sending His mercy and love to operate in needy hearts. This devotional was written by Dr. Robert A. Cook. You can subscribe to his free email articles and listen to his Spirit-filled 15-minute messages at www.walkwiththeking.org. Used with written permission.

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