"Hear My Cry"-Sis. Mary

Text: Psalm 61:1-4:

• Psalm 61:1-4: Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

"When your children are small, they call your name over and over again in order to get your attention. When you don't answer, they get louder. When mine got older, they learned to call me by my first name to get my attention. Children are relentless at times when they need to be heard. I began to think of this in the perspective of our Heavenly Father. We, as well, have times when we need to be heard. We want our father to hear us. We want to get his attention. I am reminded of the psalmist David and on how many occasions he cried unto the Lord, "Hear my cry, Oh Lord," and "Hear my prayer."

• Psalm 120:1 A song of decrees. In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me. 
• Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear.

While David was fleeing for his life, he also encouraged himself in the Lord. We need to do that, as well. 

• 1 Samuel 30:5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

A father knows how to give good gifts to his children. 

• Matthew 7:9 Which of you, if your son asks for break, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
• James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comesth down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

Some children when told, "No," throw a temper tantrum, but our Father sometimes says, "No." We may not like it, but it is still important that we seek his face. When you do, the answer to why will be revealed. He knows the very intent of our heart. 

• 1 Chron 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

He hears our pryaer before it is even spoken.

• Psalm 139:4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

-Sis. Mary (Women's Ministry Director)