May 3, 2019 • Life for Leaders
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
Psalm 145:18
Psalm 145 celebrates the greatness and goodness of God. We know God’s superlative nature because of the powerful, gracious actions of God. God satisfies “the desires of every living thing” (Psalm 145:16), and is “faithful in all he does” and “near to all who call on him” (Psalm 145:17-18).
This does not mean, however, that we should fashion God in our own image, making God into whatever we like, and praying according to our particular biases and projections. Psalm 145:18 reminds us: “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Our prayers should reflect the character of God as revealed in history, in Scripture, and most of all in Jesus Christ. They should take into account God’s will for us. It would be foolish, for example, to ask God to bless behavior that was clearly contrary to God’s will. On the other hand, to pray in line with God’s identity and will is a wise act. In the language of Psalm 145:18, God is “near” to us when we call on him “in truth.”
Psalm 145:18 gives expression to one of my basic hopes and motivations as I write these Life for Leaders devotions. I believe that the best way for us to call upon God in truth is to immerse ourselves in Scripture. Here we glimpse the actions of God that reveal God’s nature. Here we read what God says about God’s own self. Here we can find God’s will for our behavior.
The more we allow the written Word of God to permeate our minds and hearts, the more we will be able to pray in light of God’s true nature and true will. When we pray in this way, not only will we find that our prayers are answered positively, but we will also sense the presence of God in our lives. Gid will be “close” to us as we meditate upon truth, growing into a deeper relationship.
All of us desire God’s closeness in our lives as we relate to God in truth. But we are not alone in this desire. God also seeks this kind of relationship with us. As Jesus said,
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).
Just think of it! God is seeking you, so that you might know and worship God in spirit and truth!
Something to Think About:
How has knowing God through Scripture impacted the way you pray?
How has knowing God’s will through Scripture impacted the way you pray?
Have you experienced God’s closeness when you call upon God “in truth”?
Something to Do:
One way to call upon God in truth is by praying the Scriptures. There are different ways to do this. One involves simply letting the words of the Bible fill your prayers. For example, Psalm 145:18-19 reads, “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.” You might pray this back to God in this way: “Lord, thank you for being near when I call on you. Thank you for making yourself known to me so that I might call on you in truth. Thank you for fulfilling the desires of my heart. Thank you for hearing my cry and saving me.” Why don’t you pray along these lines, using part or all of Psalm 145? I’ll model this a bit further in the following prayer.
Prayer:
Gracious God, I exalt you as my God and my King. I praise your name forever and ever. Every day I will pray to you, and extol your name forever and ever.
Great are you, Lord, and most worthy of praise. Your greatness is more than I could ever fully fathom.
O Lord, may I speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty. May I meditate on your wonderful works. May I proclaim your great deeds and celebrate your abundant goodness. Amen.
Explore more at the Theology of Work Project online commentary:
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well (John 4)
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders, and the founder of the De Pree Center’s Flourishing in the Third Third of Life Initiative. Previously, Mark was the Executive Director of the De Pree Center, the lead pastor of a church in Southern California, and the Senior Director of Laity Lodge in Texas. He has written eight books, dozens of articles, and over 2,500 devotions that help people discover the difference God makes in their daily life and leadership. With a Ph.D. in New Testament from Harvard, Mark teaches at Fuller Seminary, most recently in his D.Min. cohort on “Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation.” Mark is married to Linda, a marriage and family counselor, spiritual director, and executive coach. Their two grown children are educators on the high school and college level.
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Thank you Mark. This reminds me of a great app called Arm Raisers that invites you to pray scriptures over those near and dear to you.
Patrik, thanks for this comment. I was not familiar with Arm Raisers! Blessings to you.