What are we asking for? What do we need?

Psalm 4:1-8
Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods  
Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.

Tremble and do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the Lord .

Many, Lord , are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.

In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord ,
make me dwell in safety.
http://bible.com/111/psa.4.1-8.NIV

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Are we surprised that the world seeks after worldly things? Are we surprised that the carnal speak their words in order to receive the things of this world that their wicked hearts desire?

But don’t his servants understand the value of our inheritance, of those eternal blessings that nourish our souls? Don’t we seek to be filled more with your Holy Spirit, Lord? Isn’t our Hope to be anointed and overflowing with the very nature of your character, Lord? Isn’t it or Faith that allows the light of your presence to shine on us, Lord? Isn’t it our Love that fills us with joy when we receive you as our blessing and portion, even as others receive what it is their hearts desire most?

Lord, teach us the great value of fearing you and not sinning.

Lord,  teach us the great value of searching our own hearts, crucifying those desires of the flesh,  and learning to listen to your voice.

Lord,  teach us the value of a righteous life of trusting you, so that we might learn to be a living sacrifice to you name,  an example of what change your power can make in a life turned to you.

Lord,  teach us the value of joy and contentment with our position and possessions in this world, but do not let us be content with how much of you we have,  keep us hungry for more of you, because you will not let us starve and die.

Lord, teach us the value of your peace,  because it is the only place of true safety in this world. Don’t let our trust be in lesser things, wealth, prosperity, the plans of men,  the temptations of Babylon.

Let us rest in the confident knowledge that we are set apart as your faithful servants, and that you hear us,  Lord,  when we call out to you.

Remind me that I am nothing without you,  Lord.

Remind me that it is in you that I live and move, and that I am created so that you might breathe in me, live in me,  and let your glory reign in my life.

Remind me that your Kingdom is come in me, that your will is done in me.

Lord, show your love towards the communities and people where we live and serve – through our hands, our words, our service – as we participate as a willing vessel for your use.

Lord, equip us with your nature, bear fruit in our lives, so that we might serve our communities in uniquely Christian ways visible to the eyes of the public,  so that they might recognize, and begin to understand the blessings that are truly valuable.

Lord, open the eyes of the lost, and crush the cold hearts of any who sit in worldly authority and power and wealth, let them know the fear of their coming death and destruction, so they might know the worthlessness of the treasures they have chased, and so they might find the peace of laying down and sleeping in the arms of the Lord.