10 Steps to Preparedness in Prayer (Step 5)

(Psalm 139:1-4 NLT)  O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  You know everything I do.  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.

This morning we continue our series entitled, “Re-Energizing Your Prayer Life,” by continuing with our 10 Steps to Preparedness in Prayer.  In our last message I gave you Step 4: Put on Righteousness.  Today we will discuss Step 5:  Put on Truth and Honesty.

One of the things I have never really understood is why people attempt to hide things from God.  I guess it’s a psychological thing, but even people who acknowledge the fact that God knows everything about them somehow think they can keep things from Him.  Our focus text David teaches us that God knows us inside and out.  He knows our thoughts before we think them.  He knows our words before we say them.  He knows our feelings before we feel them.  There is nothing our God does not know about us.  So when we fail to be open and honest with Him, it hinders our payer life because He knows that we are holding back.

The Bible calls David a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), even though David made major mistakes in his life.  David committed both adultery and murder, so he was no saint, but what he did so right was come clean with God.  In the 51^st Psalm David said, “Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom” (v.6).  David gave God that truth.  David desperately confessed and repented before God.  Was David perfect?  Of course not, but he was honest about his mistakes and God was able to use him for His glory.

In another Psalm David asked the question, “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?  And who may stand in His holy place?”  This is a great question and one that we want answered while we are learning about prayer.  Prayer is about getting into that Holy place with God.  In prayer we seek to commune with Him.  So who is that can ascend to the hill of the Lord and stand in God’s Holy place?  David answers, “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully” (Psalm 24:3,4).

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:

1.  When you come to God, you should come naked, open, and unashamed.  God knows you better than you know yourself, so don’t try to hide things from Him.

2.  If you are deceptive (or holding back) when you attempt to engage God in prayer, then He will know it and he will hold back from you.  Be transparent with God and He will manifest Himself to you.

3.  Be honest with your heavenly Father.  You can talk to Him about things you would never talk to anyone else about.  The more open you are with God, the more intimate your time with Him will be.

4.  Like David, you don’t have to be perfect, just honest.  If you are honest with God you will be forgiven and He will be able to use you to make a difference in your environment.

Closing Confession:  Father, You know me inside and out.  You are acquainted with all my ways.  There is nothing I can hide from You.  You know my thoughts before I think them, my words before I speak them, and my emotions before I feel them.  For me to hold things back from You does not make sense.  From this day forward I will be open and honest with You.  My transparency will help solidify our intimacy and my prayer time will go to another level as I come to You naked, open, and unashamed.  I share things with You Father that I don’t share with anyone else and from now on my prayer time will be a special time for both me and You.  As I do this I free You to use me for Your glory daily.  I declare this by faith.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper!