March 18

Continue Upright

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight. — Prov 15:8 BSB

This is as good as a promise, for it states a present fact that will remain true throughout all ages. God takes great pleasure in the prayers of upright people; He even calls them His delight. Our first concern should be to be upright. Without swaying to the left or the right, remain upright; don’t bend with worldly policies, nor be prostrate by yielding to evil. Stay upright in strict integrity and straightforwardness. If we begin to compromise and twist our ways, we will be left to fend for ourselves. If we try dishonest methods, we will find that we cannot pray, and if we pretend to pray, our prayers will be shut out of heaven.

Are we living upright lives and following the Lord’s revealed will? Then let us pray often and pray in faith. If our prayers are God’s delight, let us not be stingy in offering what gives Him pleasure. He doesn’t scrutinize our grammar, our logic, or our eloquence in prayer—though people might. As a Father, He takes pleasure in the lisping prayers of His children, the stammering petitions of His newborn sons and daughters. Shouldn’t we delight in prayer since the Lord delights in it? Let us bring all our needs to the throne. The Lord provides us with enough reasons to pray, and we ought to thank Him for it.