The Power of Prayer: Drawing Near to God in All Circumstances

Prayer is one of the central parts of the Christian life—not a passing obligation, but something we should engage in with our whole hearts. Unlike the "Go to Prayer" square in Bibleopoly (the Christian version of Monopoly) that players try to escape quickly, prayer in our spiritual lives should be a place we desire to remain.

What could be more personal than calling out to our God? Prayer is drawing near to God in Christ, knowing He is our heavenly Father who is good and merciful. The very act of prayer demonstrates our reliance and dependence upon God for help—an act of humility acknowledging we cannot do life on our own.

What does it mean to pray with your whole heart?

In Psalm 119:145-152, we see a beautiful picture of what wholehearted prayer looks like. The psalmist cries out to God with intensity and fervency:

"With my whole heart I cry. Answer me, O Lord. I will keep your statutes. I call to you, save me, that I may observe your testimonies."

The psalmist isn't praying half-heartedly or going through pious motions. He's not treating prayer as a backup plan while trying to solve problems on his own. Instead, all his thoughts, troubles, and desires funnel into his prayer for God to answer him.

His heart is set on reflecting Deuteronomy 6:4 by loving the Lord his God with all his heart—not just in prayers but in actions as well.

How often should we pray?

The psalmist's prayer life demonstrates remarkable dedication:

"I rise before dawn and cry for help. I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night that I may meditate on your promise."

He rises early, before the sun, to come before God in prayer. Not only that, but he stays up late through the different watches of the night. Like a watchman posted on the city wall all night looking for the morning sunrise, the psalmist waits on the Lord to answer him.

While many of us prioritize sleep (and there's nothing wrong with that), the psalmist loves prayer with God even more than his rest. His example challenges us to consider how we prioritize our time with God.

What should we pray for?

Throughout this passage, the psalmist makes several requests:

• "Answer me"
• "Save me"
• "Help me"
• "Hear my voice"
• "Give me life"

First, he asks God to hear him—to direct His favor toward him and essentially draw near. He needs God to save him from external enemies who are persecuting him and from his own internal sinful tendencies.

Importantly, the psalmist believes God will answer him. Prayer isn't just for our spiritual benefit—it actually works! We can trust that God will answer us in His timing and according to His will.

Why does the psalmist pray?

Notice that the psalmist isn't using prayer to accomplish selfish desires. His requests align with God's will. The reason for all his requests is so he can live a life of obedience to God.

Look at how every request is followed by a purpose:

• "Answer me, I will keep your statutes"
• "Save me that I may observe your testimonies"
• "Help me, I hope in your words"
• "I'm awake, that I may meditate on your promise"

The purpose for calling on God is for God Himself. The psalmist wants to know God more deeply, so he deep dives into God's word to deepen his communion with God. He asks God to draw near so that he himself can draw near to God.

On what basis can we approach God?

The psalmist doesn't ask God to save him because he deserves it or has earned it through enough prayer hours. Verse 149 reveals the basis of his approach:

"Hear my voice according to your steadfast love, O Lord, according to your justice, give me life."

He approaches God based on God's steadfast love and justice—qualities that reflect who God is, not what the psalmist has done. This reflects Exodus 34:6-7, which describes God as "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness."

This is good news for us! When we read about the psalmist's prayer life, we might feel convicted about our own prayer habits. But this conviction shouldn't stop us from praying—it should encourage us to come to God more. We pray with confidence not because we've earned God's favor with perfect prayer lives, but because of who He is.

How does Jesus fulfill this psalm?

Jesus prayed with His whole heart every time. He rose early before dawn to pray to His Father and stayed up late through the watches of the night to cry out to Him. Before His betrayal, while His disciples slept, Jesus called out to His Father as the true watchman.

Even now, while we sleep, Jesus intercedes for us. On the cross, God's steadfast love and justice were perfectly displayed—love lavished on sinners and justice poured out for our sin.

Christ has torn the veil so we can enter the Father's presence, and He has given us His Spirit who helps us in our weaknesses.

How does God's Word remain true in trouble?

In verses 150-152, the psalmist's tone shifts from crying out for an answer to declaring what is already true about God:

"They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose. They are far from your law, but you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true. Long have I known from your testimony that you have founded them forever."

The psalmist's enemies are drawing near to harm him because of his faithfulness to the Lord. They hate God's law and prefer to call good evil and evil good. But verse 151 makes all the difference: "But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true."

No matter the situation, the fact that God is near changes everything. Though enemies draw near for evil, though temptations draw near for evil, though the accuser draws near for evil—the Lord is ever closer to you for your good.

In the face of trouble, God's Word remained true for the psalmist. His Word did not crumble under pressure but stood as a rock during trouble. God's Word has eternally been true, long before we ever came to Him for help.

Is God near even when He doesn't feel near?

You may say God doesn't feel near right now—everything around you communicates that God is far, not near. But God's Word has not changed. He is always near to His own, and He has shown it undeniably by drawing near in time and space in the person of His Son.

As John 1:14 says, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." God the Son drew near 2,000 years ago so we could see Him, hear Him, and touch Him.

On the cross, Jesus who had perfect nearness with the Father was forsaken so that we would never be. Christ has drawn near so that we can draw near to the Father. And after Christ ascended, He sent His Spirit to dwell within us. How much nearer can He be?

Application

What would it look like for you to pray as if the Lord really is near and His Word really does shape your life? Do you believe in the nearness of God enough to call on Him with your whole heart and let His Word shape your entire life?

This week, challenge yourself to:

• Make prayer your first response, not your last resort. When troubles come, run to God first.
• Set aside specific times to pray—perhaps early in the morning or late at night like the psalmist.
• Let God's Word shape your prayers. When you don't know what to pray, pray Scripture back to God.
• Remember God's nearness isn't determined by your circumstances but by His promises.
• Approach God based on His character—His steadfast love and justice—not on your performance.

Ask yourself:

• Am I treating prayer like a "Go to Prayer" square I want to escape, or as the central relationship of my life?
• Do I believe God is truly near to me, even in my troubles?
• What would change if I approached prayer with my whole heart, not just when I need something?
• How can I let God's Word shape my prayers more deeply this week?

The Lord is near to all who call on Him in truth. Trust that God is near even when trouble is near, an don't interpret His nearness by your circumstances, but by His promises.