Whom shall I fear - Purging prayer, “The Lord hears me” (2)

Someone said: "Our deep worries about tomorrow will not take away tomorrow’s fears, but will take away today’s joy and peace." The Bible says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6: 34). The Apostle Paul also says in his letter to the Philippians, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” And the sure result: “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4: 6, 7).

The peace of God fills our hearts as soon as our requests are made known to God, not when our requests are met.

Maybe there is no one to hear us, and with no other choice, we return to self-talk.
And maybe there is someone to listen, as Job’s friends did, but they don’t understand us.
But the Lord hears us and understands us. ”You understand my thought afar off” (Psalm 139: 2).

The friends of the Job were miserable comforters and vain doctors. But the Lord is the soothing, restful Comforter and skillful and wise Doctor.
When we get used to pouring out our souls before the Lord, turning our bitter and fearful self-talk to conversation with our God, our hearts will rest and our fears will dissipate.

Meditate on what David did when he groaned and said, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?” At the outset he was dialoging and talking within himself, suffering from the groans and sighs of his soul, but finally, he turned to God, telling himself, “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,” and then he poured out his soul before the Lord, saying,”Oh, my God. My soul is downcast within me” (Psalm 42: 5, 6).

From this, we see that when you feel fear and anxiety, and you need to unload your feelings and talk about what’s going on inside, you have three ways:

First: talk to yourself.
This is what David did. “Why are you downcast, O my soul?” This leads to self-pity.

Second: talk to others.
This is what Job did with his friends. Others may not understand you, or they may weary you.

Third: talk to your God.
This is the best way. He hears you and understands you and treats you.

In the purging prayer, “The Lord hears me,” you will experience three great things:
First: Cast your burdens and fears before the feet of the Lord; and you will get rid of all feelings of anxiety and sensation of fear.

Second: Surrender your matters into the hands of the Lord. Trust in His ability and authority. The purging prayer is not only to talk with the Lord about your burdens but also, to cast it on Him, and commit it to Him. The Lord is not a psychiatrist who listens to you, but a great God who hears you and cares for you and saves you. He promised to listen and will also do it.

Third: Enjoy fellowship and conversation with Him. “Your face, LORD, I will seek….Do not hide your face from me.” Delight in the fellowship with the Lord will dispel all your fears, and then you will be filled with his amazing peace.

Magdy Samuel