READ
“Give ear to my words, O LORD, Consider my groaning. Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, For to Thee do I pray. In the morning, O LORD, Thou wilt hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to Thee and eagerly watch.” Psalm 5:1-3

EXAMINE
This Psalm of David is a prayer of intense need and emotion. David doesn’t hold anything back from God as he describes the wicked. It is the beginning that caught my attention this morning. David describes how he will pray. I see three things in this verse that can help in our prayer life. David prays in the morning — first thing. I'm not suggesting we should only pray in the morning or that it is the best time. For me; however, morning is when I’m freshest and naturally thinking about what lies ahead in the day. I want God involved. David says, “I will order my prayer.” It seems it is thought out — not rote, memorized or stale, but not rambling either. It has a purpose and recognizes the nature and truths of God. It deals with life situations and needs. What really caught my eye, though, is that David is going to “eagerly watch.” David is not going to pray in the morning as a ritual and then proceed with the rest of the day with little thought to how he started. David is going to watch. He is expecting God to answer. David asks God to listen and David is going to listen and watch for God. This is conversation and relationship...not just checking boxes and going on with life.

APPLY
We send an email and watch for a reply if expected or needed. We hit a baseball, golf ball, tennis ball and then watch its path of flight. We can shoot an arrow and watch for impact. We expect something from our action and look with anticipation for a result.  I do not suggest we can cajole God into anything, but shouldn’t we watch and listen throughout the day? Wouldn’t that practice help keep us whole in our walk with God? Why do we fool ourselves with a “religious” time of prayer in the morning and then head off to work for the “real” day. David didn’t. His “real” day was watching and waiting for God in the midst of whatever he was doing. You say, “Well, pastors have time for that – I don’t.” David was a shepherd, warrior and king. I think he did all of these "life roles" best when he was watching and waiting for God.  I want to learn from his example!  God make me acutely aware of Your presence and activity in my life!

PRAYER
Lord, thanks for your Word this morning. It is good and profitable for instruction and correction. Father I admit that I do sometimes get busy with morning study and prayer and leave with little thought about what I had given to you in prayer. I see your purpose of prayer in this text and want to be more purposeful in listening and watching. I know you answer and desire real conversation. I thank you for those awesome times of communion and recognizing answers and your clear work. Thanks for those faith builders. Father we do not want to be a people that merely do religion. I want to be a person that sees your spiritual realities in a more clear light and understanding. Let me see them like the physical things of a day that seem to dominate existence. By your very nature you are whole and complete. Even as I make this prayer in text, I ask you to give me the wisdom of rest and to watch for ways you are answering in my life – this very day. May you be glorified in our expectation! May your activity in my life be ever present and ever clear to me!