Psalm 5

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by the flute.

1 O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning.

2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you.

3 Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

4 O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked.

5 Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil.

6 You will destroy those who tell lies. The Lord detests murderers and deceivers.

7 Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe.

8 Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow…

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.

12 For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love. (NLT)

IF WE DO NOT DRAW regularly and frequently on the living water that Jesus promised would well up in us like a spring,* our hearts will close and dry up. The consequence of not drinking deeply of God is to eventually lose the ability to drink at all. Prayerlessness is its own worst punishment, both its disease and cause.

David’s description of his prayer life is a picture of a man who knew the importance of frequent, regular prayer—disciplined prayer, each morning. “Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” He knew that from the human side of prayer, the most important thing to do is just to keep showing up. Steady, disciplined routine may be the most underrated necessity of the prayerful life.

Like water in the well, the life of God flows from a heart and a will we cannot cause or create. But we can do much to create the conditions necessary to receive what flows. We can keep lowering the bucket.

Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. (1)

Go ahead and moan your prayers if you must. What we don’t understand about ourselves, the Spirit understands, and he will pray with us and for us with great love, patience, and wisdom.

Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. (2)

Always remember whom you are praying to—and why. David prayed, not only on his own behalf, but for the sake of his King. Before he was David, the son of Jesse, he was David, the servant of the King. He was under orders, and he prayed as one who sought God’s Kingdom. Pray your prayers boldly and humbly in that great context: boldly because you serve the King, humbly for the same reason!

Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. (3)

For all of us, whether “morning people” or not, it is essential that the day begin with prayer in some degree and of some sort—a word of thanksgiving for safety through the night and the day ahead, and a brief request that God’s will be done in all you do, and that he be your Shepherd through the day.

Plan prayer for each morning. Then work your plan. The amount of time you spend in prayer is not as important as that you regularly begin the day this way.

Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe. (7)

The best part of prayer is God. To be in his presence—to find in him a refuge, to be under his protection—is our greatest joy, the purpose for living. Thank God for the mercy that gives this greatest gift and that enables you to pray with full confidence.

*John 7:38

For more devotionals by Ben Patterson, find his book, Praying the Psalms, HERE.