PREVIEW: King David is unashamedly praying for God’s blessing on his life and on his reign as king over Israel. He asked for it all: Divine favor, protection, success, and even long life. He clearly understands that he can do nothing without God: he can’t be an effective king, he can’t even live a decent life if God doesn’t grace him with what only God can give. So, he aggressively, boldly, pointedly asks. In everything David did, and in every prayer request he lifted to God, his motive was that God’s name could be lifted high throughout the earth and throughout every generation. When your motive, like his, is to squeeze the last ounce of glory for God out of your one and only life, then you, too, can unashamedly ask the Lord to empty heaven’s treasury of blessing nd pour it out upon you.
A Journey of Worship // Psalm 61:5-8
You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name. Add many years to the life of the king! May his years span the generations! May he reign under God’s protection forever. May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him. Then I will sing praises to your name forever as I fulfill my vows each day.
King David is unashamedly praying for God’s blessing on his life and on his reign as king over Israel. He asked for it all: Divine favor, protection, success, and even long life. He clearly understands that he can do nothing without God: he can’t be an effective king, he can’t even live a decent life if God doesn’t grace him with what only God can give. So, he aggressively, boldly, pointedly asks.
But David had a great motive for asking. It wasn’t just so he could reign as king over Israel more successfully, or just so he could have a problem free ministry, or just so he could live a longer life. All that was fine—and there is certainly nothing wrong in asking for any of it. What David mostly wanted was to squeeze the very last ounce of glory for God out of his one and only life. In everything he did, and in every prayer request he lifted to God, his motive was that God’s name could be lifted high throughout the earth and throughout every generation.
That’s a great motive for asking. It is also a sure way to receive from the Lord. In Psalm 37:4, David wrote, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” What do you desire in your heart? What do you seek in prayer? Make sure the Lord factors first and foremost in all you are hoping for—not because he needs that from you, but because he deserves that from you—and he will pour out his unlimited supply of heavenly grace upon your life.
God looks for people who are wholly bent on glorifying his name. And when he does, the treasury of heaven will open to that person in uncommon ways. The chronicler said, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9).
When the Lord looks today, may he find that person in you. And may you be blessed beyond your wildest imaginations!
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