How can we call upon God in times of trouble, as Psalm 91:15 suggests? Psalm 91:15 — God’s open invitation “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.” What “calling upon” means • Lifting your voice (or thoughts) directly to the Lord, expecting Him to hear • Relying on His covenant promises rather than your own resources • Making specific requests while confessing absolute trust in His character Heart postures that unlock the promise • Humility: “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5) • Repentance: “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” (Psalm 66:18) • Confidence: “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence.” (Hebrews 4:16) • Perseverance: “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Practical ways to call on God in trouble • Speak aloud or whisper a simple cry: “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30) • Pray Scripture back to Him—e.g., Psalm 50:15: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” • Sing worship that declares His faithfulness (Acts 16:25) • Fast to heighten focus on God’s intervention (2 Chronicles 20:3-4) • Gather with believers for united prayer (Acts 4:24-31) • Write your plea in a journal, anchoring every request in a promise of God Promises tied to the call • He answers: “Call to Me, and I will answer you.” (Jeremiah 33:3) • He is present: “I will be with him in trouble.” (Psalm 91:15) • He delivers: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19) • He honors: He publicly vindicates those who privately trust Him (1 Samuel 2:30) Living illustrations • David: “In my distress I called upon the LORD… and my cry for help reached His ears.” (Psalm 18:6) • Jehoshaphat: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12) • Jonah: “I called to the LORD out of my distress, and He answered me.” (Jonah 2:2) • Early church: under threat, they prayed and were “all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:31) Guardrails for effective calling • Ask in Jesus’ name, aligning with His purposes (John 14:13-14) • Believe that He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6) • Surrender outcomes to His perfect wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6) Keep the line open Trouble may press you, but the pathway is clear: call, trust, wait, and watch Him prove faithful. |
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