PSALM 5:3 | YOU HEAR
Psalm 5:3 ESV says, “O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.”
Years ago, King David participated in the same practice we are invited to every morning. His devotional time looked different than ours. He had to bring physical sacrifices to the altar. Accompanying these offerings were prayers and requests. David lived long before the Holy Spirit was poured out, yet he still longed for intimacy and a relationship with God. He understood that the heart of Yahweh was more than divine power to rule. It was love and faithfulness.
So how much more relevant is this verse for us today?
We can stand on the promise that God hears our voices. He doesn’t always respond in ways we expect, but he always hears. Part of the journey of abiding daily is paying attention to how God responds to us. Even though he doesn’t always respond immediately, he surely responds. The more we see his hand, the stronger the case for faith we build.
God is invested in the relationship far more than we ever could be engaged. So it is appropriate to depend on him to help establish deeper levels of connection and growth. Interestingly, our self-driven attempts to perfect our faith often get in the way of the gentle progress that comes from the Father’s leadership in our lives.
When David came before God, he didn’t say, “I get myself perfectly put together, come before you with proof, and hope you are impressed.” He just made a sacrifice and watched.
I love the simple humility of this posture. What does that look like for you today? Could you bring a spiritual sacrifice? Perhaps your sacrifice is fasting, generous giving, serving someone, going out of your way to encourage someone, or devoting time to connect with God. Whatever it looks like, we have an image of coming before God with a humble offering and waiting for him to help us move forward.
When we practice this humble routine of worship and prayer, we begin to understand what David said later in Psalm 5:7 ESV. He said, “But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.”
More encounters with God’s love will open the invitation to enter God’s house—his throne-room presence—where we find all that we need.
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Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired by the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.
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