I have been struck by the first verse of Psalm 4:

"Hear me when I call, Oh God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in [my] distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer."

This single verse has challenged my entire prayer life this year.  I can hear David's passion.  He does not just want to offer up words...David passionately desires to offer the words that God will hear in the heavenly courts; words that will make a change; words from God's righteousness...this one verse has made me consider how I pray.

God does not desire that we would present an emotional display.  An offering of compulsory words, thoughtless chants and rote prayers.  Jesus was critical of religious systems and people of this ilk acknowledging that Isaiah was correct about people who pray in such a manner. "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from Me."

David was a man after God's own heart principally because David believed God. In this verse David expresses his belief that God is righteous and that when he is passionate about the things that God is passionate about, then he is righteous. Wow!! That will change your prayer life too!! When we are passionate about what God is passionate about our prayer life changes!!! Passion for the things on God's heart is the entry way into effective prayer.

David does not assume that God is obligated to hear his prayer, David believed that God is merciful and would listen to him as a product of His mercy. God had relieved David from the distress of life before and by faith expresses his belief that God would relieve him again.

Oh, that our prayer life would change this year. That, like David our prayer would be the product of belief and passion for the things that God is passionate about; like unity, peace for Jerusalem, purity, hope, forgiveness and His Kingdom to name a few. That like David, we would know God's mercy in our prayers and His grace in our lives.