Today we had in our various chapters a prayer not to sin, a prayer for safety, a prayer not to be killed, a prayer for victory and a psalm of praise.

How often, when tempted to sin, have you just tried to grunt it out…to not sin on your own strength of will? How’d that work for you? If you’re anything like me, it didn’t work too well. I have to admit that my own efforts, when the sin is right in front of me, are typically all too human. I fail. But David asks God for help in avoiding sin. And of course, that’s something that you and I can do, too. It’s always a good idea to ask for help before it is needed, right? If we begin each day with a prayer that includes this request, and make it an ongoing habit throughout the day, I have a sneaking suspicion that the times of facing sin head-on will become fewer and farther apart.

And life is full of situations that would harm us, physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually, you name it. So often we don’t see the danger until we’re in the thick of it. David asks God to protect him, to see the situations that surround him and guide him. That also is a good daily prayer.

Then David asks God to save him from the enemies that want to crush him, to kill him. I would venture to say that most of you listening to my voice right now are not in that kind of danger, though there are Christian brothers and sisters around the world who do face that kind of danger right now. David asks God to defeat and even destroy those who would want his destruction. Seems to me that there is nothing wrong with asking God to intervene in our behalf against evil people who seek to kill God’s people.

And then David wonders why the God of all creation even gives a thought about us weak humans. But He does, doesn’t He? David asks God again for the defeat of his enemies, and then he takes it a step further and asks God to bring blessings to him. That’s a prayer I’ve begun praying on a daily basis. I ask God to pour out his blessings on each member of my family, by name. I used to think that praying like that was presumptuous and selfish. But Jesus said, “You have not because you ask not.” So I ask Him specifically for blessings of health, finances, wisdom, and more. As the eldest male of my branch of the Webb family, I look at it as my duty and privilege to take my family to the throne of God every day to ask for His favor. I would encourage you to do the same.

And then in our last chapter today, David pours out his heart in praise. Since God does hear our prayers, since He is forever faithful, He deserves it, right? He is good to his people, He does bring blessings and protection and victory. Just as it is only right to thank and appreciate the people who do good things for us, it is good to praise and thank God for the things He has done. God loves those types of prayers, just as I as a husband, father and grandfather love it when I hear thank yous and I love yous from my family. God is our Abba, our Daddy. We should approach Him and love Him and thank Him with that attitude.