May he give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose. Let us shout for victory and lift the banner in the name of our God. May the LORD fulfill all your requests.
PSALM 20:4-5 (CSB)

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King David and King Jesus agree on the high value of prayer. They agree that our Father in heaven hears and answers prayer. These prayers are directed toward showing how good God is. These prayers are connected to God’s purpose for our lives. 

Someone expressed a well-worn sentiment a few days ago when he said, “Prayer is powerful.” This is not always true. Powerful prayer follows the pattern of David and Jesus. David says, “May he give you what your heart desires.” When we want what God wants and live in alignment and attunement with him, prayer becomes powerful. 

When our purpose, our personal mission in life, is directed toward honoring God and serving others, our prayers are powerful. God’s Yes and his Greater Yes after an initial No are connected to shaping our lives into testimonials of his grace, mercy, kindness, and love. God’s Yes and his Greater Yes are connected to overflowing our lives with goodness that transforms all it touches.

A wise man told me recently to pay close attention to the God-honoring desires of my heart. He said God placed them there. He placed them there for me to pursue. He placed them there to guide my daily doings and my personal prayers. How did I get to be sixty years old and never hear this truth summarized in this way? How could I not use this truth to shape the way I pray?

David blesses us when he says, “May the LORD fulfill all your requests.” Jesus takes it from there and says, in effect, “Yes and Amen.” The Message paraphrases John 14:13 and 14 like this: “From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do.”

Prayer is a chore for many. For some, it is dedicated work. For all of us, in the light of these truths, it should become an unending delight. This seems to be the heart of what the Apostle Paul means when he says, “Never stop praying.” 

Prayer is not a never-ending chore. Prayer is not endless labor. Prayer is opening our hearts to receive more God-honoring passion and Kingdom-building strength. How could we not seek God’s highest and best for the people we encounter and the needs of their hearts and lives? How could we not lift all that we see and do to God in prayer? 

Let’s pray like King David. Let’s pray with King Jesus. Let’s shout for victory as we raise the banner of prayer.

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I will take Jesus’ path all the way to the home he has prepared for me.

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Our Father, you provide everything we need now and forever. What you give is better than what we want. Where you lead is better than anything we desire. Thank you for taking us as your own and welcoming us into your home. Amen.