Proverbs 15:8-9: “The sacrifice of the wicked is hateful and exceedingly offensive to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight! ⁹ The way [of life] of the wicked is hateful and exceedingly offensive to the Lord, But He loves one who pursues righteousness [personal integrity, moral courage and honorable character].”

By carefully reading these verses we can realize that the prayer of a child of God is an offering that pleases Him. He delights and loves one who fears Him and wants to live in His ways. We are so privileged to have God’s word and be able to pray His word back to Him! Imagine, what would be of our prayer life without the Psalms?

David was a man that had a passion for God. He continually prayed to God, and offered his heart with praise and worship through his Psalms. He was not a perfect man, but was one who prayed from his heart, to the heart God!

 “His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man; but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” (Psalm 147:10-11)

In God he found his delight, and he also knew God was pleased by this!

When David failed and sinned against God, he also knew he was falling in the path of the wicked and realized he had deeply displeased his Lord:

“My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51:17 AMP

In our prayer time with the Lord we must come to Him with a humble and repentant heart, because we fail so many times in our day to day! As Paul wrote in Romans 12:1

“ ^[a]Therefore I urge you, ^[b]brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.” 

He also knew how to pray from his heart to the heart of God, dedicating his whole being to Him!

If we continue reading Proverbs 15, we fill find how the writer continues to highlight the importance of the prayers of God’s children:

^26 “The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight.

 ²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. (15:26, 29  Emphasis mine)

When we come –pray- to our Heavenly Father in total surrender we find the hope, the strength and the purpose of our lives, even in the midst of trial and difficulties:

Yes, let us rejoice in Him for He listens, cares, and delights in us as we seek Him in prayer!!

Next time you come to “your secret place” remember that the prayer from your heart to His heart is a pleasing sacrifice to Him. He is Worthy!!

Mari

Wow, in this chapter Matthew writes about many miraculous events! I was a bit overwhelmed as I was getting ready to write today´s post, because each one these are so unique! Jesus not only poured His loving healing power over the lives of those He healed, but over the lives of those who heard of these miracles, too!

-The healing of the leper  (8:1-4 )

-The healing of the centurion's servant (8:5-13)

-The healing of Peter's wife's mother (8:14-15)

-The healing of all the sick who were brought to the doors at evening time (8:16-17).

-The miracle of calming the storm which threatened their lives on the Sea of Galilee. (8:23-27)

-There is the healing of the two demon possessed men. (8:28-34)

What grabbed my attention is that the disciples had witnessed all of Jesus´ first miracles, since they decided to follow Him (4:23-24), and before they experienced the storm they were in and I wondered: why were they so afraid? I mean they had seen Jesus perform all those healings… such miracles they had never thought to witness or experience!  Shouldn’t  they  have felt confident nothing would happen to them, if Jesus was with them? But no, they were actually afraid to die!

“ ²⁴ And suddenly a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵ And the disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us, we are going to die!” ²⁶ He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?”  Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was [at once] a great and wonderful calm [a perfect peacefulness]. “ (8:24-26)

As I tried to put myself in their place, I sadly realized I would have probably reacted the same way, especially as I look back at all the difficulties and the struggles I´ve experienced throughout this year! I knew Jesus was with me all this time, but there were moments when my faith waivered!

I like how C. H. Spurgeon explains this:

“They did not know their Lord yet; nor do we. Perhaps we have to go to sea to learn more of him, I mean that troubles and trials of a greater sort than we have known before may yet have to come to be our schoolmasters to teach us what Jesus is. “They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters, these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.” You landsmen are thankful for your quiet, but you do not see so much of Jesus as others of his disciples do, you must go to sea to be able to cry, “What manner of man is this?” C. H. Spurgeon

Yes, this is so true! Each one of the people who were healed in this chapter, were going through a terrible storm themselves, too! They needed a miracle, they heard about Jesus and they came to Him, believing He would heal them, and He did!

In the presence of Jesus our storms will turn to peace! And if He rebuked the winds and the sea for the sake of the disciples then, He can do it again in our lives, too for:

^”Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 Amp)

Mari

(I am including this link. I hope thus song blesses you - Famous For-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USorGnKamks