Perseverance in Prayer Amidst Life's Challenges
Summary
In today's reflection, we delve into Psalm 11, exploring the theme of perseverance in prayer, especially when faced with discouragement and the temptation to give up. This psalm, a profound school of prayer, invites us to consider how we respond when the foundations of our lives seem to be crumbling. David, the psalmist, is advised by a friend to flee from danger, yet he chooses to take refuge in the Lord. This decision is not merely about physical safety but about spiritual resilience and trust in God's sovereignty.
David's experience is a mirror for our own lives, where we often face voices of fear and frustration, both external and internal. These voices can lead us to question the value of our efforts and the possibility of making a difference. However, David challenges these voices, affirming his trust in God. This act of challenging fear and frustration is a vital part of our prayer life, allowing us to bring our deepest concerns before God and find strength in His presence.
The psalm also teaches us to recognize God's hand in our testing. When life shakes us, it is an opportunity to see what is built on sand and what is built on the rock of God's truth. This recognition helps us to understand that God uses these moments to refine our faith, much like gold is refined in fire.
Furthermore, David's focus shifts to the sovereignty of God. He reminds us that God is in His holy temple, observing and testing the righteous. This perspective helps us to see beyond our immediate circumstances and trust in God's ultimate plan.
Finally, the psalm ends with a promise that the upright shall behold God's face. This anticipation of seeing God's glory provides a powerful incentive to persevere in righteousness, knowing that our faithfulness will be rewarded with the ultimate joy of His presence.
Key Takeaways:
- Challenge the Voice of Fear and Frustration: In moments of doubt and fear, it is crucial to confront these feelings in the presence of God. By doing so, we declare our trust in Him and find strength to persevere. [19:27]
- Recognize the Hand of God in Testing: When life seems to shake our foundations, it is an opportunity to see God's hand at work, refining our faith and drawing us closer to Him. [24:47]
- Affirm the Sovereignty of God: In the hardest times, focusing on God's sovereignty helps us to trust in His ultimate plan and find peace in His presence. [28:32]
- Anticipate the Joy of the Final Outcome: The promise of seeing God's face provides a powerful motivation to remain faithful, knowing that our perseverance will be rewarded with His glory. [30:17]
- The Power of Prayer in Despair: Prayer is a gift that allows us to bring our fears and frustrations before God, finding healing and strength in His presence. [19:49]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introduction to New Books
[02:21] - Opening Psalm 11
[02:55] - How to Pray When You Feel Like Giving Up
[03:32] - David's Advice and Challenges
[05:39] - Historical Context of David's Struggles
[07:19] - Modern Parallels to David's Experience
[09:40] - The Role of Friends in Our Struggles
[13:27] - Should I Stay or Should I Go?
[14:17] - David's Response to Fear
[15:45] - Four Ways to Pray When Discouraged
[19:49] - The Gift of Prayer
[23:53] - Recognizing God's Hand in Testing
[28:32] - Affirming God's Sovereignty
[30:17] - Anticipating the Final Joy
[31:35] - Story of William Montagu Dyck
[34:29] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Psalm 11
Bible Reading:
- Psalm 11
- Job 23:10
- 1 Peter 1:6-7
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Observation Questions:
1. What advice does David receive from his friend in Psalm 11, and how does he respond to it? [03:11]
2. How does the sermon describe the voices of fear and frustration that David faces? [16:18]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the role of God during times when the foundations of life seem to be crumbling? [24:28]
4. According to the sermon, what promise does Psalm 11 end with, and how is it significant for believers? [30:17]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does David's decision to take refuge in the Lord rather than fleeing reflect his trust in God's sovereignty? [14:36]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God uses testing to refine our faith, similar to the refining of gold? [27:56]
3. How does the sermon illustrate the importance of challenging the voice of fear and frustration in our prayer life? [19:11]
4. What does the promise of seeing God's face mean for believers, and how does it serve as motivation for perseverance? [30:40]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you faced discouragement or fear. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now in light of David's example? [14:17]
2. Identify a current situation in your life where you feel the foundations are shaking. How can you recognize God's hand in this testing and respond with faith? [24:47]
3. What are some practical ways you can challenge the voices of fear and frustration in your life through prayer? [19:49]
4. How can focusing on God's sovereignty help you find peace in difficult circumstances? Share a specific situation where this perspective might change your outlook. [28:32]
5. The sermon mentions the joy of the final outcome as a motivation for perseverance. How can you keep this promise in mind during challenging times? [30:17]
6. Think of a friend or family member who might be giving you well-meaning advice that conflicts with your faith journey. How can you lovingly address this while staying true to your convictions? [22:26]
7. How can you incorporate the practice of speaking to yourself in the presence of God, as David did, into your daily prayer routine? [17:50]
Devotional
Day 1: Confronting Fear with Faith
In moments of doubt and fear, it is crucial to confront these feelings in the presence of God. David, in Psalm 11, exemplifies this by choosing to trust in God rather than succumbing to the advice of fleeing from danger. This act of challenging fear and frustration is a vital part of our prayer life, allowing us to bring our deepest concerns before God and find strength in His presence. By declaring our trust in Him, we find the courage to persevere through life's challenges. [19:27]
Psalm 56:3-4 (ESV): "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?"
Reflection: Identify a specific fear or frustration you are currently facing. How can you bring this before God in prayer today, trusting Him to provide strength and guidance?
Day 2: Seeing God's Hand in Trials
When life seems to shake our foundations, it is an opportunity to see God's hand at work, refining our faith and drawing us closer to Him. David's experience in Psalm 11 teaches us to recognize God's presence in our testing. These moments reveal what is built on sand and what is built on the rock of God's truth. Understanding this helps us to grow spiritually, as God uses these trials to refine our faith, much like gold is refined in fire. [24:47]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent trial you have faced. How did you see God's hand at work in that situation, and what did you learn about your faith through it?
Day 3: Trusting in God's Sovereignty
In the hardest times, focusing on God's sovereignty helps us to trust in His ultimate plan and find peace in His presence. David reminds us in Psalm 11 that God is in His holy temple, observing and testing the righteous. This perspective allows us to see beyond our immediate circumstances and trust in God's ultimate plan, knowing that He is in control and working for our good. [28:32]
Isaiah 46:9-10 (ESV): "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'"
Reflection: Consider a situation where you struggle to see God's plan. How can you remind yourself of His sovereignty and trust in His purpose today?
Day 4: Anticipating the Joy of God's Presence
The promise of seeing God's face provides a powerful motivation to remain faithful, knowing that our perseverance will be rewarded with His glory. David concludes Psalm 11 with the assurance that the upright shall behold God's face. This anticipation of seeing God's glory encourages us to persevere in righteousness, as the ultimate joy of His presence awaits us. [30:17]
1 John 3:2-3 (ESV): "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure."
Reflection: How does the promise of seeing God's face inspire you to live a life of faithfulness and righteousness today?
Day 5: The Healing Power of Prayer
Prayer is a gift that allows us to bring our fears and frustrations before God, finding healing and strength in His presence. In Psalm 11, David demonstrates the power of prayer in despair, choosing to take refuge in the Lord rather than giving in to fear. Through prayer, we can experience God's peace and strength, enabling us to persevere through life's challenges. [19:49]
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV): "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: What specific fears or frustrations can you bring to God in prayer today, trusting Him to provide healing and strength?
Quotes
David says I'm going to take refuge in God I hear your advice that I should just you know think about myself and move on but that's not the right thing for me to do I'm going to take refuge in God so once you understand the beginning of the some the great question then is how did David do that how did he do it [00:14:59]
how do I continue how do I persevere how am I to pray when I feel like giving up and when you come to that place some 11 is for you now notice how David responds in this circumstance to the well-meaning advice of friends who suggest to him that the best thing is to hightail it out of town and to flee to the mountain [00:14:07]
challenge the voice of fear and frustration you see how he's doing that in the first verse how can you say to my soul flee like a bird to the mountain so he's challenging the well-meaning advice that has come to him and I'm saying to you because this is the school of prayer this 11th Psalm that here is something that we need to do [00:16:18]
there are times when you and I need to speak to our cell wolves in the presence of God there are times when you and I need to speak to ourselves in the presence of God and you find us many many times in the Psalms Psalm 103 bless the Lord O my soul that's David speaking to his own soul and all that is within me praise His Holy Name [00:17:45]
bring out your worst thoughts into the open all the frustration and all of the fear and then take yourself in hand and challenge the voice of fear and a frustration and of despair and do it in the presence of God this is part of the gift of prayer and it's part of the healing of the soul that happens with Christ in the school of prayer [00:19:21]
recognize the hand of God in the testing notice it comes twice here verse five the Lord tests the righteous so david's identifying that there's a testing going on in this experience and then verse four the eyelids of the lord test the children of man sir comes twice now remember this when the foundations of life the things that you depend on [00:23:53]
the collapse of what is built on sand may be distressing but it may also be a beginning in a perceptive here's something that's built on sand and it's shaken you say oh that's terrible look at all that wonderful thing that was built but it was built on sand and now it's collapsed and he says the shaking of what is built on sand may be distressing [00:25:04]
affirm the sovereignty of God in the hardest times here's something to do when you pray especially when you feel like giving giving up notice how from verse four onwards the whole focus of David's prayer is on the Lord the Lord the Lord just look at this with me verse four the Lord is in his holy temple number at verse four the Lord's throne is in heaven [00:28:32]
the foundations of righteousness do not lie in the culture they never did the foundations of righteousness lie in who God is and in what God loves the Lord is righteous that's what he's saying and the Lord loves righteousness that's the foundation and the Lord is sovereign even in the hardest times and here's the last thing challenge the voice of Ian [00:29:36]
anticipate the joy of the final outcome look at the last line of the psalm you'll want to underline it and take it right into your soul the Lord is righteous he loves righteous deeds and here it is the upright shall behold his face did you know that was in the Old Testament not only the judgment of the wicked but the righteous shall behold his face [00:30:17]
David says I'm not giving up I'm taking refuge in God God is on the throne he may be testing my my faith to the very limits but I'm looking ahead and I'm trusting in the sovereign God and the upright are going to see his face there's a beautiful story and I end with this story of British man by the name delightful name of William Montagu Dyck [00:31:14]
until that day dear lord help us to challenge the voices of fear and frustration to recognize your hand in the testing to affirm your sovereign rule in all things and to anticipate with great joy the final outcome through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose name we pray and everyone together said [00:35:06]
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