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Psalm 145:18 - Praise and Prayer.

Psalm 145:18 - Praise and Prayer.

Psalm 145:18 (KJV)  The LORD is nigh unto all them that call 
upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 

Psalm 145:18 (AMP) The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to 
all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth. 

Psalm 145:18 (CWR)  He comes close to those who call on Him in 
truth, who seek Him with all their hearts. 

CONTEXT: Psalm 145 - Reasons for Praising God.

Psalm 145: Praise His Name. This is an acrostic psalm: each line 
begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. We might name 
it, "Praising God from A through Z," as each letter brings to mind a 
different reason to praise the LORD. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary] 

Here we find many of God's majestic characteristics: greatness, 
majesty, power, goodness, righteousness, grace, compassion, loving, 
glory, splendor, faithfulness, presence, giving, saving, holy, etc.  
His character leads us to praise. [Disciple SB mod.] 

  David extols the Lord for His greatness (v. 3), grace (vv. 8, 
17), goodness (v. 9), glory (vv. 11-12), and generosity (vv. 15-16). 
If you are having a hard time praising the Lord today, that should 
help get you started!  
  David hears all God's works praising Him (v. 10). Nature takes 
on new meaning and new beauty when you realize this. 
  When you live a life of praise, you have the Lord's help in 
every situation. If you stumble, He helps you up (v. 14). If you are 
hungry, He feeds you (vv. 15-16). If you call, He draws near (v. 18). No 
wonder David blessed the Lord so much! And remember the Lord inhabits 
the praises of His people (Psa.22:3). [Chapter by Chapter Bible 
Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re Psalm 145 mod] 

APPLICATION COMMENTARY With Emphasis On Verse 18:

If we keep the Lord ever before us, allowing our hearts to go 
out in thanksgiving and praise to Him, we shall have a continual 
freshness in our religious life. Our prayers will take the form of a 
conversation with God as we would talk with a friend. He will speak His 
mysteries to us personally. Often there will come to us a sweet, joyful 
sense of the presence of Jesus. {FLB 225} 

Prayer is the breath of the soul. It is the secret of spiritual 
power. No other means of grace can be substituted, and the health of 
the soul be preserved. Prayer brings the heart into immediate 
contact with the Well-spring of life, and strengthens the sinew and 
muscle of the religious experience. Neglect the exercise of prayer, or 
engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and 
you lose your hold on God. The spiritual faculties lose their 
vitality, the religious experience lacks health and vigor.  {GW 254} 

Now, there are reserved and special things in Christian 
experience: all the developments of spiritual life are not alike easy of 
attainment. There are the common frames and feelings of repentance, and 
faith, and joy, and hope, which are enjoyed by the entire family; but 
there is an upper realm of rapture, of communion, and conscious union 
with Christ, which is far from being the common dwelling-place of 
believers. We have not all the high privilege of John, to lean upon Jesus' 
bosom; nor of Paul, to be caught up into the third heaven. There are 
heights in experimental knowledge of the things of God which the eagle's 
eye of acumen and philosophic thought hath never seen: God alone can 
bear us there; but the chariot in which he takes us up, and the fiery 
steeds with which that chariot is dragged, are prevailing prayers. 
Prevailing prayer is victorious over the God of mercy, "By his strength he 
had power with God: yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: 
he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Beth-el, 
and there he spake with us." Prevailing prayer takes the Christian 
to Carmel, and enables him to cover heaven with clouds of blessing, 
and earth with floods of mercy. Prevailing prayer bears the 
Christian aloft to Pisgah, and shows him the inheritance reserved; it 
elevates us to Tabor and transfigures us, till in the likeness of his 
Lord, as he is, so are we also in this world. If you would reach to 
something higher than ordinary groveling experience, look to the Rock that 
is higher than you, and gaze with the eye of faith through the 
window of importunate prayer. When you open the window on your side, it 
will not be bolted on the other. [Morning and Evening by Charles H. 
Spurgeon] 

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and 
unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)   

SPECIAL LINKS:

Grace Notes:
http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php

A Better Way to Live:
http://www.itiswritten.com/betterway/

Excellent Spiritual Resource Site:
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/

More Spiritual Resources:
http://www.aBible.com