Today's Verse: Psalm 4:1

Wednesday, April 1, 1964

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
— Psalm 4:1
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Thoughts on Today's Verse...

At first, this cry for help seems very demanding of us on God. Closer inspection shows that this is really a cry of desperation. Have you been there? I surely have, and I regularly hear from folks who are there now. But, dear friend in Jesus, read how this Psalm ends! What is the secret to surviving a long agony? I believe three things are important:
  1. Honesty in our prayer life with God.
  2. Confidence that God hears and cares even when our prayers sizzle with pain and frustration.
  3. Genuine praise for God that is included in our prayers even when things seem bleak and God feels distant.
Such an approach to prayer is not a magical formula but a Spirit-inspired one - check it out in Psalm 4!

My Prayer...

O God, please hear my cry for relief and the relief of those I love who are in agony from their burdens and suffering. Please answer in amazing and miraculous ways so that we may not only be relieved, but you may be glorified by those who see you working in the lives of ordinary but desperate people. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

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2 Related Resources by Heartlight

Hear My Prayer
Illustration of Psalm 4:1
Inspirational illustration of Psalm 4:1 -- Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
Calm Down
Article by Alan Smith
Feeling a little stressed? Try this... Sometimes we need a little admonition to calm our souls, even if it is self-administered.

Illustration

Illustration of Psalm 4:1 — Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, April 1, 1964

Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'Your Great Power' (Re. 11:17)
""We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign.""
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Matthew 5:44-45
"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and..."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Encouragement Matters'
"Dear Precious One, Encouragement matters! You were not created to do life alone. We — Father, Son, and Spirit — made Adam to need Eve....."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'God Has Sheep Not in Your Group' (Jn. 10:15-16)
"Just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I give my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not in this flock, and I must bring them..."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

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