David Teach Me How to Pray
As one reads the book of Psalms, he easily discovers that in this book are scores of prayers of David. There is so much to be learned about praying from this godly man. In reality we have far more of the prayers of David than we do of the prayers of Jesus. Jesus prayed. Jesus prayed all night. Jesus prayed so differently that when His disciples heard Him praying they said to Him, “Lord, teach us how to pray, as John also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). His response was to give them the “Lord’s Prayer,” which begins, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…” (Luke 11:2).
Because David was a man after God’s own heart, we can learn so much from looking at the prayers found in the psalms. If we can learn to use the words of this godly man in our prayers, we can rest assured that God will hear us when we pray.
Psalm 143 illustrates this concept so clearly. David opens his heart before us and we can immediately identify the situations in David’s life with those which happen in ours. It is at times like this, we can learn from David about how we should never waver in petitioning our Father.
The Setting for Psalm 143
The beginning of this psalm identifies this particular psalm as being one David wrote. Read the psalm to see that there was that enemy of David who had created grave problems. David said the enemy has persecuted his soul, crushed his life to the ground, created a world of darkness around him (v. 3). His soul was overwhelmed. The man after God’s own heart was conscious of his sins, but prayed to God on the basis of “Your faithfulness…and Your righteousness.”
Keep On Asking
Jesus taught us to keep asking, seeking and knocking on the doors of heaven, and in the last half of this psalm that is what David did. “I spread out my hand to you…answer me speedily, O Lord…cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning for in You I do trust…I lift up my soul to You…Deliver me, O Lord from my enemies; in You I take shelter. Teach me to do Your will for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake. For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.”
God never tires of us asking Him and acknowledging our dependency on Him. Jesus prayed the exact same prayer three times in one hour when in Gethsemane. When trials overwhelm you and it appears the enemy is winning, remember this psalm. This not a prayer indicating David’s doubt of God’s nature. It is his soul repeatedly crying out to God again and again. As trials come, read this psalm and keep on praying!