“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”

ow do you acknowledge God?

Today we acknowledged God by making a promise. We promised to pray for and to teach Alyssa how to pray. HOW are we going to do that? Are we going to teach her to pray by choice or by chastening? Are we going to teach her to pray in order to get something from God or to be with God?

How we teach Alyssa will greatly depend on how her parents pray and how you and I pray.  Do you acknowledge God by choice or by chastening?

Is the primary reason you pray to get something from God or is it to be with God?

A group of parents were talking about their adult children.  It was noticeable that as each parent took turns talking about his or her adult child one parent was very quiet.  When asked how her children were she said, “The only time we hear from our kids is when they want or need something.”  Is that the only time God hears from you?

How tragic would it be if God remembered to attend to you only as often as you remembered to be thankful to Him?

Sadly, but all too often true, God doesn’t hear from us unless we have a problem.  Ron Susek in his book God Will Answer makes the point that God is banned on school property until there is a crisis, such as the Columbine massacre and might I add other events like September 11th.

Perhaps you have read and or heard that Pepsi is coming out with a patriotic design on their soda can.  There will be a picture of the statute of liberty and the words of the pledge of allegiance without the words, ‘One Nation Under God.’   It seems they don’t want to offend any consumer.  I find it strange that they are going to omit the name God from the pledge but they will gladly take my money that has the name God printed on it.

“Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God.”

Why have we become so selective in our acknowledging of God?

As Diane and I were raising our child we made a change in our approach. Initially we had the typical reward and punishment method.  Ex.  If you do your chores you will get your allowance. If you don’t, you won’t get your allowance.  If you don’t behave you will be sorry.  Their obedience was motivated by punishment and rewards. Our new method was emphasizing love as motivation.  Doing their chores was a way of expressing their love for us.

Why do you acknowledge God?  Is it because you fear the consequences or because you love God?  Is it because you don’t want to experience trials and tribulation.

As we look at Psalm 42 it is apparent in this Psalm that the Psalmist feels separated from God. There is an apparent restlessness that wouldn’t go away until his relationship with God was restored.

Do you detect the Psalmist’s discouragement?

“These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude,
leading a procession to the house of God,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.”

He is depressed or discouraged because he can’t go to church.

Depression is the most common emotional ailment. There are an endless number of anti-depressant drugs and treatments.  Do you know what is the number one anti-depressant on the market today? The Bible, the powerful Word of God that brings hope and joy. Notice what the Psalmist says the Word of God can do when we acknowledge God.

What is your life dependent on?

As the deer is dependent upon water for life we need to be dependent upon God. Keep in mind there is a vast difference between the God we want and the God who is. At times we will receive tangible gifts and at times we will receive something even more valuable: a revelation of who God is and who we are in the relationship with Him.

Acknowledge God in prayer not for the purpose of getting what you want, but for being in relationship with the God of life and love.