Tenth Sunday after Trinity – Monday

Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me. —Psalm 50:15.

What should induce us to pray?  What should encourage us poor, miserable sinners, but who, at the same time, are the children of God, to pray; yes, what should give us even a most earnest desire to do so?  In the first place, God’s command.  God demands it of us.  He says: “Call upon Me!”  This is not a hard and harsh command, however, but a most kind and gracious one.  And we should be glad that God thus commands us to pray, and we should say to Him: “When Thou saidst, Seek ye my face, my heart said unto Thee: Thy face, Lord, will I seek” (Psalm 27:8).

Secondly, God’s promise should induce us to pray.  He says: “I will deliver thee.”  And Jesus says: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). Could He have given a kinder and more assuring promise?  Ought we, therefore, not to pray?  St. James is right in saying: “Ye have not because ye ask not” (James 4:2).

Thirdly, our need should induce us to pray.  “Call upon Me in the day of trouble,” says our God.  Our need is so great and manifold.  We are in greater need than we know or even faintly imagine.  We are in need of divine help over against the devil, the world, and our own flesh.  Our body and soul both are in need.  We are in need respecting both this present time and the future time.  There can be no greater need than that in which we are every day.  And we are entirely unable to help ourselves.  Therefore, our merciful God says: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.”  Should that not induce us to pray?

PRAYER – I thank and praise Thee, O gracious God, that Thou commandest me to call on Thee in my need and helplessness.  And, Thou dost promise to deliver me.  O God, let me not stand afar off, neither in dread of Thee nor in self-reliance, but, through Thy Holy Spirit, working through Thy precious Word, grant me grace to flee to Thee, seeking help alone with Thee, who is not only almighty, but is also my gracious Father through Jesus Christ, my Savior.  Amen.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;

take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a Friend so faithful,

who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our ev’ry weakness;

take it to the Lord in prayer.

—

Are we weak and heavy laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our Refuge,

take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee,

take it to the Lord in prayer;

in His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

thou will find a solace there.

(Hymn 457, st. 2-3; TLH)