When we pray to God, we must direct our prayers with
all call upon the name of the Lord - Zephaniah 3:9). In every prayer, remember that you are speaking to God, and let it show that you have a deep reverence for Him. Let us not be rash with our mouth, nor hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and we are upon earth (Ecclesiastes 5:2). If He had not invited and encouraged us to pray, it would have been an unpardonable presumption for sinful creatures like us to speak to the Lord of glory (Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes - Genesis 18:27). We must pray sincerely and from the heart, for it concerns both our lives and the eternal life of our souls.
B. We Must Direct Our Prayer to God
God must not only hear our voice, but we must also deliberately and purposefully address ourselves to Him. In the original, the phrase simply reads, I will direct unto thee. It may be understood as I will direct my soul unto thee, which agrees with Psalm 25:1: Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. Alternatively, it could mean, I will direct my affections to thee; having set my love upon thee, I will pour out my love to thee. Our English translation conveys it well as I will direct my prayer unto thee, which includes:
1. Focusing Our Prayer When we pray to God, we must direct our prayers with intention, reflecting a fixedness of thought and a focused mind. Prayer is a solemn act, and we must approach it as people with something of great importance on our hearts and minds. We dare not treat it lightly or trivially. When we pray, we must not offer the sacrifice of fools—thoughtless words without understanding or purpose. Instead, we must speak the words of