I'm sure this has never happened to you. You are sharing with someone, and there it is, a blank distracted look. Then, you wonder, "Are they really listening?"
In this psalm, David begins his prayer my calling on God to listen. "To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, do not be deaf to me." There are evil people around David who are troublemakers. "The workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts." I call them sweet nasty people. You know the kind, friendly in public, but carry on with malicious slander in private. David laments and pleads with God to "render them their due reward." David recognized that he was helpless to change his circumstances, so he called on God to help.
Suddenly, David's prayer makes a shift in verse 6. "Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy." He shifted from defeat to trust. "In Him my heart trusts, and I am helped." He shifted from laments to thanks. "My heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him." He shifted from self to others. "Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!"
Lord, I know that you are listening. Please make a shift in my heart.
Robin Copeland, Four Oaks, N.C.
