Sometimes an unanswered prayer is the best thing for us. The psalmist says, “And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul” (v.15). The Israelites had prayed selfishly. God was feeding them with manna from heaven, ... But after a while their old appetite came back. They said, “Oh, if somebody would give us some meat to eat”. So God sent them meat, but while they were eating it, many of them died (Num.11:31-33).

We can learn from this experience. First, selfish prayers are dangerous. How dangerous it is to say, “Oh, God, I simply have to have this.” Such prayer are never beneficial. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James.4:3).

Secondly, prayer must change our character. The Israelites got their request, but it didn’t help the character. ... The Prodigal son said, “Father gave me.” He got what he asked for, and it almost ruined him. Then he came back and said, “Father, make me”—and his character changed. He began to be a real son (Luke 15:19). Selfish praying endorse our character, but praying in the will of God builds our character. Finally, we must always pray for God’s will. The purpose of prayer, it has well been said, it is not to get man’s will done in heaven but to get God’s will done on earth. Never be afraid to say, “Thy will be done.”

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God knows best how to answer your prayers—even whether or not to answer them! The psalmist has given three valuable guidelines for effective prayer. Let God use your prayer time to align you to His will and His point of view. Let Him prepare you for His answer.

Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? who can shew forth all his praise? –Psalms‬ ‭106:2

Who can truly praise the Lord? Those who know God through faith in Jesus Christ. “His mercy endures forever” (v.1). Only when we‘ve experienced the mercy and grace of God can we utter His mighty acts. We‘ve been saved by His grace. This was God’s greatest act—greater than bringing Israel out of Egypt and even greater than the creation of the universe.

Who else can praise the Lord? Those who obey Him (v.3). If we are walking with the Lord and obeying Him, then we can praise Him and speak of His wondrous acts.

Also, those who call upon the Lord can praise Him (v.4). People who pray are people who praise. People who pray for God’s will in their lives are those who rejoice in His work.

Finally, those who trust His promises can praise the Lord (v.5). God promised His people an inheritance in Canaan, and He gave it to them. We now have our inheritance in Jesus Christ....One day we will share in His glory. Let’s praise Him today.

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Those who obey, trust and call upon the Lord know of the acts of God. They have claimed their inheritance in Jesus Christ. Are you among those who can praise the Lord? Have you claimed your inheritance?

Here, Egypt is a picture of the world. The people of God (Israel), it was a place of slavery and monotonous toil. It also is flat and barren in many areas. But Canaan is a land of hills and valleys, the land of rain and fruitfulness, milk and honey. When you were saved, God removed you from Egypt, spiritually speaking. He put you into Canaan and said, “Enjoy all of these blessings.”

Why was Egypt glad when Israel left? One thing is sure—the Egyptians were afraid. Israel was worshipping the true God. Israel was in irritant to Egypt—like salt in the wound, like light that exposes evil. God used Israel to witness to Egypt, but it did not receive that witness.

Christians are salt and light. Sometimes we irritate people. Sometimes by our conduct we expose what is wrong. Someday we are going to be gone. It could be today. Jesus Christ might return today and take His people home to glory. No more salt. No more light. But what then? Judgement. Let’s remember that we have a job to do while we are waiting for our Lord to come.

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One of the believer’s responsibilities is to be light and salt in the world. Sometimes you affect others without being aware of it. Other times you have obvious opportunities to impact others for Christ. Ask God to use you to make a difference in someone’s life today.

How wonderful it is to receive an answer to prayer. But there is something even more wonderful—to be an answer to prayer. Have you been an answer to prayer lately? Joseph was (v.17). At the time—Joseph—could not see what God was doing. But God was preparing him to be an answer to prayer. He was going to use Joseph to protect the people of Israel. If Joseph had not done this, the nation might have perished. If the nation had perished, we wouldn’t have a Bible, and we wouldn’t have a Savior.

Got plans His work. We never have to worry about what is going on, because God knows. He is never caught off guard, and He’s never surprised. He chose Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Jacob’s sons to accomplish some great purposes in this world—to bear witness of the true and living God. To give us the Bible and the Savior.

God also works His plan. He uses people to accomplish His purposes. We don’t always know what God is doing. Joseph worked and walked by Faith. He went through trials and dishonor, but he ultimately triumphed. From trial to triumph, from bondage to blessing, Joseph was an answer to prayer.

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God doesn’t waste our trials. He designed them for our good and His glory. You may be wondering today, “Why am I going through this experience? Why doesn’t God make life easier for me?” Remember Joseph. God chose him, prepared him and used him as an answer to prayer. Let God prepare you for what He has prepared for you. He might be planning to use you as an answer to prayer.

Your spiritual memory is vital to your spiritual health. Do you remember what God wants you to remember? Are you grateful for what He remembers? “Remember His marvellous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgements of His mouth. . . . He has remembered His covenant forever, the word which He commanded, for a thousand generations (vv.5,8).

We should remember God’s Words, His wonders and His works, but we often forget. How easy it was for the Israelites to forget what God had done for them. Each year they celebrated the Passover, and one reason for that celebration was to remind them that God had delivered them out of slavery in Egypt. Some things we ought to forget, such as “those things which are behind” (Phil.3:13). But the psalmist tells us to “remember His marvellous works” (v.5). Are you remembering God’s blessings? The next time you are tempted to criticise or get angry with God, just remember His marvellous works.

God also remembers, when God deals with us, He deals not on the basis of the law, but on the basis of His covenant promises. He has sealed the covenant with the blood of His Son. Don’t forget that His promise never fail. Even when we forget, He remembers. Even when we neglect God’s Word, He remembers it. God keeps His promises. He is faithful and will never lie.

Nutritionist remind us that we must have minimum daily requirements of vitamins and minerals if we are to be physically healthy. Similarly, David gives God’s minimum daily requirements we need if we are to be spiritually healthy.

The first requirement is praise (vv.1,2). Praise means giving thanks for all that God is, all that He does and all that He shares with us. Praise is rejoicing in the presence of the Lord because of who He is and because we are His children.

Prayer also is essential (v.1). We call upon the Lord when we need strength and grace and help in time of need. And He always hears us.

Witnessing is another element (vv.1-3). If we only Praise and Pray but don’t present the Lord to other people, our lives will become narrow, shallow and selfish. We need to tell others that He is the only Savior.

The final requirement is seeking His face (v.4). In other words, leave in the light of God’s continents. Live with the smile of God upon your life and seek to please Him alone.

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Just as your physical health requires care, so does your spiritual health. God’s minimum daily requirements helps you maintain a healthy spiritual life. Make sure you meet your daily minimum. It will please Him and bring glory to Him.

When Jesus Christ is your Savior and God is your Father, and the Holy Spirit is within you and the Word of God is teaching you, all of creation takes on a new beauty and your blessing. The sky is deeper blue, and the earth is a richer green. You don’t see just creation; you see the Creator. And you don’t simply see a Creator; you see the Heavenly Father, who cares for you.

Psalmist wrote (in vv.33,34) these words after considering all of God’s creation,. He heard the birds singing in the branches. He’s saw the rushing rivers flowing. And he said, “I’m going to rejoice in this Creator,” who is my God.

All creation is travailing in pain because of sin (Rom.8:22). But our Creator is still in charge, and His creation, in spite of sin, still has great beauty and great wealth. God rejoices in His creation, He rejoices to hear the birds sing. He rejoices to see the rivers flow (v.31).

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Let’s rejoice in His works also. And let’s rejoice that God is glorified as we obey Him today. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil.4:4).

Scientists tell us that our world is governed by what they call “natural law.” Most of them forget that behind the law is the Lawgiver. Behind creation is a Creator, who cares for His creation and His people. All of creation wait upon Him and trust Him to supply what is needed (vv.27,28).

God gives and we gather. He provides and we take. He is dependable; He takes care of His own. God is also generous. He does not give carelessly or selfishly. He opens His hand, and all of creation is filled with good (read Psalm 37:25).

God controls life and death and the changing season (vv.29,30). Spring is so beautiful, summer so delightful and autumn so fruitful. Then winter comes, and it seems so dismal. But the same God of spring and summer and autumn is the God of winter. He brings the refreshing, renewing springtime again.

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God can renew your life today. He can bring you seasons of fruitfulness and seasons of sunshine. Don’t worry about the seasons of life. The God who runs this universe can manage the changing seasons of your life. If you are in a winter season, wait; when He is ready, God will send you a springtime.

After surveying God’s work in creation, the Psalmist praising God for His infinite wisdom and His works (v.24).

Creation reveals God’s wisdom. We ought to take time to admire His wisdom in creation. The way God tilted the Earth, the way he arranged the seasons, the way He put creation together is a revelation of His great wisdom. It’s logical that the God who is wise enough to run creation is wise enough to run our lives. If He can keep the stars and the planets and the seasons and all these things going as they should, can He not put our lives together and make them what they ought to be?

Creation contains God’s wealth (v.24).. Without His wealth, we could not exist. Not only are gold and silver measures of His wealth, but so are ore and rock, fruit and grain.

Creation makes possible man’s work (v.23). Adam had work to do in the Garden of Eden. Work is a blessing, not a burden, if we are doing it for the Lord.

Creation motivates us to worship the Lord. We don’t worship creation—that‘s idolatry. We worship the God of creation. We recognise that He gives every good and perfect gift (James.1:17). O let us adore Him, our great Creator, our great Savior.

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Creation shows God’s wisdom, so rejoice! Creation contains His wealth, so use it for His glory. Creation provides work for man, so view work as a blessing. But greatest of all, creation should move you to worship the Lord.

The psalmist were captivated by the God of creation. Of course, the world they lived in was a little cleaner, a little pure, maybe a little more beautiful, because man had not yet exploited it. They recognised their dependence on Him for their sustenance (vv.14,15).

Food, wine, oil, bread—these were staples for Jewish people in that day. The psalmist mentions wine he’s talking about drunkenness. The Bible certainly warns against being drunk. God supplies our every physical needs and even above and beyond those needs. “God... gives us richly all things to enjoy (1.Tim.6:17).

In the Bible wine is a picture of the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, when the people of God where rejoicing and worshipping and praising the Lord, the crowd said, “They are full of new wine” (Acts.2:13). Do you have the joy of the Spirit today? Paul says, “Be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph.5:18)

Oil also is a picture of the Holy Spirit, who makes the face to shine. Moses had a shining face because he fellowshipped with God. Jesus had shining face on the Mount of transfiguration.

Bread is a picture of the Word of God. It strengthens the heart. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God” (Luke.4:4).

God wants to give us gladness; He wants to give us radiance; and He wants to give us strength. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to make the child of God more like Jesus.

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Food, wine, oil and bread are symbols of how He nurtures and nourishes us. Feed on His Word and allow the Spirit to control your life.