“For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” (Psalms 5:4-6)

David knew that prayer would assist him in remaining devoted and in tune with the Lord. He also knew that prayer was a great preventative to sin and would help him avoid moral failure. The word for “evil,” that David used, is a word describing self-destruction. David also believed that prayer would help him discern circumstances, or people, that would cause him to self-destruct. He knew that prayer would help him temper his foolish boasting and pride.

David wanted to avoid becoming a “worker of iniquity” – One who has yielded to idolatry. Idolatry constitutes anything that we pursue that takes God’s place as the priority pursuit of our lives. Idolatry will bring about compromise with God’s Word and His ways.

David believed that prayer would seal his lips with truth and prevent him from lying. The word for “bloodthirsty” carries the meaning of one who is a lover of violence. David believed prayer would keep his heart tender. Therefore, his heart would not become hardened in the bloodshed that followed him as king.

What prayer prevented in David’s life, prayer can prevent in your life, if you will take the time to pray. You need to examine what David believed concerning the preventative benefits of prayer. Ask God to do the same for you as you seek Him in prayer.