“Answers to prayer have to be on God’s schedule, not ours. He hears us pray, and He answers according to His will in His own time.” David Jeremiah

The Hebrew word Selah means to pause and reflect. One way you can pause and reflect is to pray. You and I are well on our way through ACTS; a straightforward framework to pray the scriptures while using the Selah Bible Study Method.

Let’s Look At the Definition of S=Supplication

[suhp-li-key-shuh n] Noun

an act or instance of supplicating; humble prayer, entry, petition or request

Do you ever feel like you can’t ask God for something? Or maybe feel as if He doesn’t hear you? This is one of my struggles. Let’s take one last look at ACTS to review how and why we can approach God with our requests.

ADORATION – Who God is.
CONFESSION – What has He commanded and where do I fall short?
THANKSGIVING – What has He done?

And that leads us to the last portion which is:

SUPPLICATION – Making my requests known.

Read Psalm 119:1-8

1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,

who walk in the law of the LORD!

2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,

who seek him with their whole heart,

3 who also do no wrong,

but walk in his ways!

4 You have commanded your precepts

to be kept diligently.

5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast

in keeping your statutes!

6 Then I shall not be put to shame,

having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

7 I will praise you with an upright heart

when I learn your righteous rules.

8 I will keep your statutes;

do not utterly forsake me!

If you are like me, what I am doing wrong and where I fall short in the passages above stand out like a sore thumb! My challenge to you is to take those areas and transform them from failure to a request.

Ask yourself the following questions in light of Psalm 119:1-8.

Where do I fail?
What do I desire?

The only reason we can even make these requests known to God is because of Jesus. Hebrews 4:16 states “Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Supplication

Create in me a desire to obey! Cause me to walk in Your ways, to seek You wholeheartedly so my walk might be blameless and blessed. Only You can make my life to line up with Your righteous way and allow my eyes to see Your mercy continually when I sin. I also ask that when I learn Your laws, I can offer hearty praise. Change my rebellious heart to desire to follow Your commands. And when I do fail, save me from self-reliance. Help me to understand the reality that I cannot do this without You Lord. Thank you for what Jesus did for me on the cross. Amen.

By now, I hope you can see how this method of taking scripture and praying might help you with your own struggle with prayer. I would love to hear from you! Do you have questions about Selah – email me. If you want to learn more about Selah Bible study on Psalm 119 or how the Selah Bible study could help you, a small Bible study or Women’s Ministry at church, go here!