Daily devotion – Coming to the Lord in prayer – a guide for serious seeking!
A Prayer Template to Follow
Psalm 70:5
“But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.”
David gives us a beautiful pattern for prayer that we can follow tonight.
1. Our Confession Before God
“But I am poor and needy…”
We begin by acknowledging our complete dependence upon the Lord.
We are powerless in the business of prayer without Him. Salvation is of the Lord—we cannot save a single soul.
We cannot command the Holy Spirit, yet we can do nothing apart from His power. But when we cast our nets where He directs, the blessing will come.
Before we ask God for anything, let us first remove the leaven from our own hearts. Just as every cupboard in Israel was emptied of leaven before Passover, let us ask the Lord to search us and cleanse us of pride, self-reliance, sin, and unbelief.
When we come confessing that we are nothing without Him, we place ourselves where God delights to pour out His blessing.
So tonight, let us first come before Him in humble confession.
2. Plead God’s Promises
“Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer…”
Having laid aside all self-sufficiency, we now come boldly, pleading the promises and character of God.
“Lord, are You not the Creator? Will You forsake the work of Your own hands?
Lord, are You not our Redeemer? You have redeemed us by the blood of Your Son—will You not hear our prayers?
Have You not promised to never leave us nor forsake us? Have You not told us to ask, seek, and knock?”
We are not attempting to persuade a reluctant God. We are laying hold of what He has already promised.
Think of the Syrophoenician woman (Matthew 15:22–28). She would not give up until she received the blessing she sought. She persevered in humble, believing faith.
May we seek the Lord with that same earnestness tonight.
3. Pray with Urgency
“Make haste to me, O God!”
David’s need was urgent, and so is ours.
When we truly feel our need, we will pray differently.
Jesus said:
“Men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1)
And again:
“Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22)
There are souls to be saved, prodigals to return, missionaries to strengthen, churches to encourage, families to restore, and hearts to revive.
Our need is great.
So let us pray with holy urgency.
“Lord, make haste to help us.”
4. Rest in Who God Is
“You are my help and my deliverer.”
Having confessed our need, pleaded His promises, and cried out with urgency, we now cast ourselves completely upon Him.
He alone is our Help.
He alone is our Deliverer.
Isaiah says,
“Let him take hold of My strength.” (Isaiah 27:5)
Jacob declared,
“I will not let You go unless You bless me!” (Genesis 32:26)
May that be the attitude of our hearts tonight.
As the church of Jesus Christ, we throw ourselves entirely upon Him.
Lord, we are poor and needy.
Make haste to us.
You are our Help.
You are our Deliverer.
And we will not let go until You bless us.