Our Lord has taught me much about crying out from my children. Mothers especially know the difference in the cries of their children. Moms know when it is a fake cry or a manufactured cry for help and they know when it is a desperate cry and it is amazing to watch them bolt into action. I really did not think about it until now, but often times if I hear one of our children cry out I watch for Diane's reaction before I respond. I'm sure that she has not thought about it, but she apparently has categories or cries and responds appropriately.
As we have moved through God's Word these past few days I have been moved with the cries of God's people and how God apparently never failed to respond to a cry from HIS children. As I pointed out in the last few days that some of HIS responses may be delayed but HE never failed to respond and quite frequently the response of our heavenly Father was swift and dramatic.
A few days ago I mentioned how my heart is moved when I hear "my Daddy" from the lips of my almost 3 year old daughter..."my Daddy, my Daddy." I love it! Day before yesterday I mentioned when one of my boys was momentarily out of my sight and cried out DaaaaaDeeeee! I talked about my response to their cry for help.
Today in our reading in 2 Chronicles 18 we witness Jehoshaphat make a foolish alliance with the evil king Ahab. Jehoshaphat did not inquire of the Lord before making the alliance he just did it and in 2 Chronicles 18:31 we see Jehoshaphat being pursued and he cries out and God responds, check it out..."So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, “It is the king of Israel!” Therefore they surrounded him to attack; but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him, and God diverted them from him. "
This is encouraging to me...even after making a foolish decision God the Father responds to the cry of HIS children! Then I turn to our reading in Romans and what do I find? Romans 10:12 "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him." HE is abounding in riches, true riches--HIMSELF, for all who call on HIM!
After reading Romans I did a quick search of "cried out to the Lord," and found 30 verses, below are a few. Each time God's children cried out to HIM for help, HE responds, each time!
2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, “Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!”
Ps 107:6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses.
Ps 107:13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses.
Ps 107:19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses.
Then I turn to Psalm 20 and what do I find?
PSALM 20
May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; 2 May He send you help from the sanctuary, And strengthen you out of Zion; 3 May He remember all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah 4 May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, And fulfill all your purpose. 5 We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. 6 Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. 8 They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. 9 Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call.
HE responds this way to HIS children, to those who are saved, twice born, born from above, those that are new creatures in Christ, those who have trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross...HIS death, burial and resurrection...HOW DO YOU BECOME HIS CHILD? ROMANS 10:9-10 STATES IT VERY CLEARLY...Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!
Children of God cry out, cry out to the one who can save! Don't trust in anything but HIM!
Pursuing HIM, crying out to HIM and HIM alone...by HIS grace and for HIS glory!
love,
m